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Neville MC, Demerath EW, Hahn-Holbrook J, Hovey RC, Martin-Carli J, McGuire MA, Newton ER, Rasmussen KM, Rudolph MC, Raiten DJ. Parental factors that impact the ecology of human mammary development, milk secretion, and milk composition-a report from "Breastmilk Ecology: Genesis of Infant Nutrition (BEGIN)" Working Group 1. Am J Clin Nutr 2023; 117 Suppl 1:S11-S27. [PMID: 37173058 PMCID: PMC10232333 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The goal of Working Group 1 in the Breastmilk Ecology: Genesis of Infant Nutrition (BEGIN) Project was to outline factors influencing biological processes governing human milk secretion and to evaluate our current knowledge of these processes. Many factors regulate mammary gland development in utero, during puberty, in pregnancy, through secretory activation, and at weaning. These factors include breast anatomy, breast vasculature, diet, and the lactating parent's hormonal milieu including estrogen, progesterone, placental lactogen, cortisol, prolactin, and growth hormone. We examine the effects of time of day and postpartum interval on milk secretion, along with the role and mechanisms of lactating parent-infant interactions on milk secretion and bonding, with particular attention to the actions of oxytocin on the mammary gland and the pleasure systems in the brain. We then consider the potential effects of clinical conditions including infection, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, cardiovascular health, inflammatory states, mastitis, and particularly, gestational diabetes and obesity. Although we know a great deal about the transporter systems by which zinc and calcium pass from the blood stream into milk, the interactions and cellular localization of transporters that carry substrates such as glucose, amino acids, copper, and the many other trace metals present in human milk across plasma and intracellular membranes require more research. We pose the question of how cultured mammary alveolar cells and animal models can help answer lingering questions about the mechanisms and regulation of human milk secretion. We raise questions about the role of the lactating parent and the infant microbiome and the immune system during breast development, secretion of immune molecules into milk, and protection of the breast from pathogens. Finally, we consider the effect of medications, recreational and illicit drugs, pesticides, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals on milk secretion and composition, emphasizing that this area needs much more research attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret C Neville
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Ellen W Demerath
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, United States
| | - Russell C Hovey
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jayne Martin-Carli
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Mark A McGuire
- Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Edward R Newton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Kathleen M Rasmussen
- Nancy Schlegel Meinig Professor of Maternal and Child Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Michael C Rudolph
- The University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Daniel J Raiten
- Pediatric Growth and Nutrition Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Wu J, Jin YY, Li Y, Li J, Xu J, Wu SM, Chen TX. Dynamic change, influencing factors, and clinical impact of cellular components in human breast milk. Pediatr Res 2022; 93:1765-1771. [PMID: 36151297 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02304-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous cellular components have been well demonstrated in human breast milk. However, little is known about their dynamic change, influencing factors, and potential clinical impacts on infants. METHODS Sixty and forty-five healthy mother-infant pairs were enrolled in the colostrum group and mature milk group, respectively. Participants' demographic and clinical information were collected by questionnaires, and the infants were followed up until 6 months after birth through telephone interview. Colostrum and mature milk were collected, and the percentage of various cell components were determined by flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS The results showed that, the total cell numbers, and the percentages of some stem cells, including CD34+, CD117+, CD133+, CD90+, CD105+, and CD146+ cells, were different in colostrum and mature milk. Besides, participants' characteristics had influence on the cellular components. Finally, high-CD34+ cells in colostrum, as well as the high-CD133+ cells and low-CD105+ cells in mature milk were associated with a significantly increased risk of infantile eczema within their first 3 months after birth. CONCLUSIONS Our data showed a dynamic change of cellular components, identified some of their influencing factors and their potential clinical impacts on infantile eczema, which helps to better understand the cellular components in human breast milk. IMPACT Some stem cell markers were dynamically changed in human colostrum and mature milk. Different cellular components were shown to be influenced by different participants' characteristics. High percentage of CD34+ cells in colostrum, as well as high percentage of CD133+ cells and low percentage of CD105+ cells in mature milk, were associated with a significantly increased risk of infantile eczema within their first 3 months after birth. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the clinical impacts of stem cells on infantile diseases, which helps to give a better understanding of human breast milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Division of Immunology, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Allergy/Immunology Innovation Team, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying-Ying Jin
- Allergy/Immunology Innovation Team, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Rheumatology/Immunology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Li
- Division of Immunology, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Neonatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Shanghai Punan Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng-Mei Wu
- Division of Immunology, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tong-Xin Chen
- Division of Immunology, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. .,Allergy/Immunology Innovation Team, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. .,Department of Rheumatology/Immunology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Lokossou GAG, Kouakanou L, Schumacher A, Zenclussen AC. Human Breast Milk: From Food to Active Immune Response With Disease Protection in Infants and Mothers. Front Immunol 2022; 13:849012. [PMID: 35450064 PMCID: PMC9016618 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.849012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Breastfeeding is associated with long-term wellbeing including low risks of infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases such as asthma, cancer, autoimmune diseases and obesity during childhood. In recent years, important advances have been made in understanding the human breast milk (HBM) composition. Breast milk components such as, non-immune and immune cells and bioactive molecules, namely, cytokines/chemokines, lipids, hormones, and enzymes reportedly play many roles in breastfed newborns and in mothers, by diseases protection and shaping the immune system of the newborn. Bioactive components in HBM are also involved in tolerance and appropriate inflammatory response of breastfed infants if necessary. This review summarizes the current literature on the relationship between mother and her infant through breast milk with regard to disease protection. We will shed some light on the mechanisms underlying the roles of breast milk components in the maintenance of health of both child and mother.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gatien A. G. Lokossou
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, Department Human Biology Engineering, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Léonce Kouakanou
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Anne Schumacher
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research and Perinatal Immunology, Saxonian Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ana C. Zenclussen
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research and Perinatal Immunology, Saxonian Incubator for Clinical Translation, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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4
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The isolation and culture of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) breast milk cells. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2020; 56:430-434. [PMID: 32719986 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-020-00475-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Li S, Zhang L, Zhou Q, Jiang S, Yang Y, Cao Y. Characterization of Stem Cells and Immune Cells in Preterm and Term Mother's Milk. J Hum Lact 2019; 35:528-534. [PMID: 31026180 DOI: 10.1177/0890334419838986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human milk is known to be rich in cellular components, including stem cells and immune cells. However, the dynamics of these cellular components at different lactation stages, and the differences between milk for preterm and term infants, are poorly understood. RESEARCH AIM To identify changes in the cellular components of human milk at different lactation stages, and to explore the associations of these changes with maternal and infant characteristics. METHODS Forty mothers of newborns of different gestational ages were enrolled. Colostrum, transitional, and mature milk samples were collected. Stem cell and immune cell molecule markers were detected using flow cytometry. Pluripotent genes (SOX2, NANOG, OCT4, and KLF4) were detected via quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS Human milk contained some stem cells but more immune cells. The percentages of hemopoietic stem cells were significantly higher in mature milk than in colostrum, and the percentages of total immune cells were lower in mature milk than in colostrum. The percentages of hemopoietic stem cells in colostrum and transitional milk were influenced by gestational age. Some minor differences in the cell composition of human milk could be explained by maternal body mass index, the mode of delivery, and parity. CONCLUSION Our results again confirmed that human milk contains stem cells. Additionally, the percentages of hemopoietic stem cells and major immune cells changed dynamically at different lactation stages and were associated with gestational age at delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujuan Li
- 1 Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- 1 Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- 1 Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyuan Jiang
- 1 Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Yang
- 2 NHC Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,3 Pediatric Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Cao
- 1 Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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6
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Cérbulo-Vázquez A, Hernández-Peláez G, Arriaga-Pizano LA, Bautista-Pérez P, Romero-Venado J, Flores-González JC, Figueroa-Damian R, Soriano-Becerril D, Mancilla-Herrera I. Characterization of CD127−
CD25++
Treg from human colostrum. Am J Reprod Immunol 2017; 79. [DOI: 10.1111/aji.12806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paulina Bautista-Pérez
- Infectology and Immunology Department; National Institute of Perinatology (INPer); Mexico City Mexico
- Biology Undergraduate Programme; Simon Bolivar University; Mexico City Mexico
| | - Jannett Romero-Venado
- Infectology and Immunology Department; National Institute of Perinatology (INPer); Mexico City Mexico
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Biology Undergraduate Programme; National Autonomous University of Mexico; Mexico City Mexico
| | - Julio C. Flores-González
- Infectology and Immunology Department; National Institute of Perinatology (INPer); Mexico City Mexico
- Chemical and Biological Sciences Postgraduate Programme; Instituo Politécnico Nacional; Mexico City Mexico
| | - Ricardo Figueroa-Damian
- Infectology and Immunology Department; National Institute of Perinatology (INPer); Mexico City Mexico
| | - Diana Soriano-Becerril
- Infectology and Immunology Department; National Institute of Perinatology (INPer); Mexico City Mexico
| | - Ismael Mancilla-Herrera
- Infectology and Immunology Department; National Institute of Perinatology (INPer); Mexico City Mexico
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Hassiotou F, Geddes DT. Immune cell-mediated protection of the mammary gland and the infant during breastfeeding. Adv Nutr 2015; 6:267-75. [PMID: 25979492 PMCID: PMC4424778 DOI: 10.3945/an.114.007377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Breastfeeding has been regarded first and foremost as a means of nutrition for infants, providing essential components for their unique growth and developmental requirements. However, breast milk is also rich in immunologic factors, highlighting its importance as a mediator of protection. In accordance with its evolutionary origin, the mammary gland offers via the breastfeeding route continuation of the maternal to infant immunologic support established in utero. At birth, the infant's immune system is immature, and although it was exposed to the maternal microbial flora during pregnancy, it experiences an abrupt change in its microbial environment during and after birth, which is challenging and renders the infant highly susceptible to infection. Active and passive immunity protects the infant via breast milk, which is rich in immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, cytokines, and numerous other immunologic factors, including maternal leukocytes. Breast milk leukocytes provide active immunity and promote development of immunocompetence in the infant. Additionally, it has been speculated that they play a role in the protection of the mammary gland from infection. Leukocytes are thought to exert these functions via phagocytosis, secretion of antimicrobial factors and/or antigen presentation in both the mammary gland and the gastrointestinal tract of the infant, and also in other infant tissues, where they are transported via the systemic circulation. Recently, it has been demonstrated that breast milk leukocytes respond dynamically to maternal as well as infant infections, and are fewer in nonexclusively compared with exclusively breastfeeding dyads, further emphasizing their importance for both the mother and infant. This review summarizes the current knowledge of human milk leukocytes and factors influencing them, and presents recent novel findings supporting their potential as a diagnostic marker for infections of the lactating breast and of the breastfed infant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foteini Hassiotou
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
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8
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Hassiotou F, Hartmann PE. At the dawn of a new discovery: the potential of breast milk stem cells. Adv Nutr 2014; 5:770-8. [PMID: 25398739 PMCID: PMC4224213 DOI: 10.3945/an.114.006924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast milk contains bioactive molecules that provide a multitude of immunologic, developmental and nutritional benefits to the infant. Less attention has been placed on the cellular nature of breast milk, which contains thousands to millions of maternal cells in every milliliter that the infant ingests. What are the properties and roles of these cells? Most studies have examined breast milk cells from an immunologic perspective, focusing specifically on the leukocytes, mainly in the early postpartum period. In the past decade, research has taken a multidimensional approach to investigating the cells of human milk. Technologic advances in single cell analysis and imaging have aided this work, which has resulted in the breakthrough discovery of stem cells in breast milk with multilineage potential that are transferred to the offspring during breastfeeding. This has generated numerous implications for both infant and maternal health and regenerative medicine. This review summarizes the latest knowledge on breast milk stem cells, and discusses their known in vitro and in vivo attributes as well as potential functions and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foteini Hassiotou
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
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9
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Feng XL, Wang Y, An L, Ronsmans C. Cesarean section in the People's Republic of China: current perspectives. Int J Womens Health 2014; 6:59-74. [PMID: 24470775 PMCID: PMC3891566 DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s41410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review the current knowledge on the prevalence, reasons, and consequences of cesarean sections in the People's Republic of China. METHODS Peer-reviewed articles were systematically searched on PubMed. The following Chinese databases were comprehensively searched: the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and the VIP information. The databases were searched from inception to September 1, 2013. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts for eligibility. Full texts of eligible papers were reviewed, where relevant references were hand-searched and reviewed. FINDINGS Sixty articles were included from PubMed, 17 articles were intentionally picked out from Chinese journals, and five additional articles were added, for a total of 82 articles for the analysis. With a current national rate near 40%, the literature consistently reported a rapid rise of cesarean sections in the People's Republic of China in the past decades, irrespective of where people lived or their socioeconomic standing. Nonclinical factors were considered as the main drivers fueling the rise of cesareans in the People's Republic of China. There was a lively debate on whether women's preferences or providers' distorted financial incentives affected the rise in cesarean sections. However, recent evidence suggests that it might be the People's Republic of China's health development approach - focusing on specialized care and marginalizing primary care - that is playing a role. Although 30 articles were identified studying the consequences of cesareans, the methodologies are in general weak and the themes are out of focus. CONCLUSION The overuse of cesareans is rising alarmingly in the People's Republic of China and has become a real public health problem. No consensus has been made on the leverage factors that drive the cesarean epidemic, particularly for those nonclinical factors. The more macro level structural factors may have played a part, though further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms. Knowledge of the consequences of cesareans, particularly for women, is limited in the People's Republic of China, leaving a substantial literature gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Lin Feng
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin An
- Department of Women, Children and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Carine Ronsmans
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England
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10
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Ward TL, Hosid S, Ioshikhes I, Altosaar I. Human milk metagenome: a functional capacity analysis. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:116. [PMID: 23705844 PMCID: PMC3679945 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 05/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human milk contains a diverse population of bacteria that likely influences colonization of the infant gastrointestinal tract. Recent studies, however, have been limited to characterization of this microbial community by 16S rRNA analysis. In the present study, a metagenomic approach using Illumina sequencing of a pooled milk sample (ten donors) was employed to determine the genera of bacteria and the types of bacterial open reading frames in human milk that may influence bacterial establishment and stability in this primal food matrix. The human milk metagenome was also compared to that of breast-fed and formula-fed infants' feces (n = 5, each) and mothers' feces (n = 3) at the phylum level and at a functional level using open reading frame abundance. Additionally, immune-modulatory bacterial-DNA motifs were also searched for within human milk. RESULTS The bacterial community in human milk contained over 360 prokaryotic genera, with sequences aligning predominantly to the phyla of Proteobacteria (65%) and Firmicutes (34%), and the genera of Pseudomonas (61.1%), Staphylococcus (33.4%) and Streptococcus (0.5%). From assembled human milk-derived contigs, 30,128 open reading frames were annotated and assigned to functional categories. When compared to the metagenome of infants' and mothers' feces, the human milk metagenome was less diverse at the phylum level, and contained more open reading frames associated with nitrogen metabolism, membrane transport and stress response (P < 0.05). The human milk metagenome also contained a similar occurrence of immune-modulatory DNA motifs to that of infants' and mothers' fecal metagenomes. CONCLUSIONS Our results further expand the complexity of the human milk metagenome and enforce the benefits of human milk ingestion on the microbial colonization of the infant gut and immunity. Discovery of immune-modulatory motifs in the metagenome of human milk indicates more exhaustive analyses of the functionality of the human milk metagenome are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonya L Ward
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology; and Ottawa Institute of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Sergey Hosid
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology; and Ottawa Institute of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Ilya Ioshikhes
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology; and Ottawa Institute of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Illimar Altosaar
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology; and Ottawa Institute of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
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Maternal and infant infections stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breastmilk. Clin Transl Immunology 2013; 2:e3. [PMID: 25505951 PMCID: PMC4232055 DOI: 10.1038/cti.2013.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2012] [Revised: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Breastmilk protects infants against infections; however, specific responses of breastmilk immune factors to different infections of either the mother or the infant are not well understood. Here, we examined the baseline range of breastmilk leukocytes and immunomodulatory biomolecules in healthy mother/infant dyads and how they are influenced by infections of the dyad. Consistent with a greater immunological need in the early postpartum period, colostrum contained considerable numbers of leukocytes (13–70% out of total cells) and high levels of immunoglobulins and lactoferrin. Within the first 1–2 weeks postpartum, leukocyte numbers decreased significantly to a low baseline level in mature breastmilk (0–2%) (P<0.001). This baseline level was maintained throughout lactation unless the mother and/or her infant became infected, when leukocyte numbers significantly increased up to 94% leukocytes out of total cells (P<0.001). Upon recovery from the infection, baseline values were restored. The strong leukocyte response to infection was accompanied by a more variable humoral immune response. Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a greater baseline level of leukocytes in mature breastmilk. Collectively, our results suggest a strong association between the health status of the mother/infant dyad and breastmilk leukocyte levels. This could be used as a diagnostic tool for assessment of the health status of the lactating breast as well as the breastfeeding mother and infant.
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12
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Li H, Reeves RK. Functional perturbation of classical natural killer and innate lymphoid cells in the oral mucosa during SIV infection. Front Immunol 2013; 3:417. [PMID: 23316201 PMCID: PMC3539714 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the fact that the majority of human pathogens are transmitted across mucosal surfaces, including the oral mucosae, oral immunity is poorly understood. Furthermore, because the normal flora of the oral cavity is vast and significantly diverse, host immunity must balance a complex system of tolerance and pathogen recognition. Due to the rapid recognition and response to pathogens, the innate immune system, including natural killer (NK) cells, likely plays a critical role in mediating this balance. Because logistical and ethical restraints limit access to significant quantities of human mucosal tissues, non-human primate models offer one of the best opportunities to study mucosal NK cells. In this study we have identified both classical NK cells, as well as innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in tonsillar and buccal tissues and oral-draining lymph nodes. Identified by mutually exclusive expression of NKG2A and NKp44, NK cells, and ILCs in the oral mucosa are generally phenotypically and functionally analogous to their gut counterparts. NKG2A+ NK cells were more cytotoxic while NKp44+ ILCs produced copious amounts of IL-17 and TNF-α. However, in contrast to gut, oral NK cells and ILCs both produced large quantities of IFN-γ and the beta-chemokine, MIP-1β. Also in contrast to what we have previously found in gut tissues of SIV-infected macaques, we found no reduction in NK cells during chronic SIV infection, but rather an expansion of ILCs in oral-draining lymph nodes and tonsils. These data suggest that the lentivirus-induced depletion of the NK cell/ILC compartment in the gut may be absent in the oral mucosa, but the inherent differences and SIV-induced alterations are likely to have significant impact on preventing oral opportunistic infections in lentiviral disease. Furthermore, these data extend our understanding of the oral innate immune system in general and could aid future studies evaluating the regulation of both normal oral flora and limiting transmission of oral mucosal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiying Li
- Division of Immunology, New England Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, One Pine Hill Drive Southborough, MA, USA
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