The Immunological Components of Human Milk and Their Effect on Immune Development in Infants ,

Abstract

There have been considerable advances in our understanding of the diverse mixture of bioactive components in human milk that influence the immune status of infants by not only providing protection but also facilitating development, tolerance, and an appropriate inflammatory response. It could be suggested that milk is the communication vehicle between the maternal immune system and the infant, a system actively directing and educating the immune, metabolic, and microflora systems within the infant, while conferring multiple means of protection from pathogens. The physiological and protective functions of many of the immune components in human milk have been deduced not from studies in infants but from what is known in other species and in vitro models. This update briefly reviews immune development in infants and focuses on current knowledge of how both the "classical" immune and the nonimmune ingredients found in mature human milk promote immune development, facilitate the development of tolerance, and regulate the inflammatory response of infants.

Milk-borne lactocrine-acting factors affect gene expression patterns in the developing neonatal porcine uterus

“…Evidence in several species indicates that colostrum, the first milk secreted after birth in mammals, acts as a conduit for transmission of signaling molecules from mother to offspring (Ogra et al 1977, Simmen et al 1990, Grosvenor et al 1993, Playford et al 2000, Almeida et al 2008, Langer 2009). Defined as lactocrine signaling (Yan et al 2006b, neonatal consumption of bioactive factors in colostrum affects differentiation of anterior pituitary mammotropes (Nusser & Frawley 1997), gastrointestinal tract development (Shulman 1990, Donovan & Odle 1994, Burrin et al 1995, and immune system maturation (Lonnerdal 2003, Field 2005, Kosaka et al 2010. Whether lactocrine-active factors or lactocrine signaling contributes to establishment of the neonatal developmental program for female reproductive tract tissues is unknown.…”

Size and phospholipid coating of lipid droplets in the diet of young mice modify body fat accumulation in adulthood

“…Human milk (HM) contains both nutrients and bioactive compounds, including endocrine and immune factors, securing healthy growth and development during infancy (11)(12)(13). Dietary lipids are a key source of energy and essential nutrients during infancy.…”

Changes in immunomodulatory constituents of human milk in response to active infection in the nursing infant

“…In addition to transfer of immunoglobulin G to the fetus through the placenta, breastfeeding constitutes an important immunological support that the mammalian mother can provide to her relatively immunocompromised offspring against infections during the first months of life (2-6). The immune system in human milk includes secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), immunoglobulin G, free fatty acids, monoglycerides, proteins such as lactoferrin, lactalbumin, glycans, nonabsorbed oligosaccharides, exosomes, immunomodulators such as cytokines, nucleic acids, antioxidants, and immune cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes (1,4,5,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). All these immunologic milk constituents interact together and with the newborn's gut directly or indirectly (e.g., by changing the gut flora) to increase immunity against infection, and probably also contribute to the maturation and efficiency of the newborn immune system (5,6).…”