Human Breast Milk and the Gastrointestinal Innate Immune System

The innate immune system is the oldest protection strategy that is conserved across all organisms. Although having an unspecific action, it is the first and fastest defense mechanism against pathogens. Development of predominantly the adaptive immune system takes place after birth. However, some key components of the innate immune system evolve during the prenatal period of life, which endows the newborn with the ability to mount an immune response against pathogenic invaders directly after birth. Undoubtedly, the crosstalk between maternal immune cells, antibodies, dietary antigens, and microbial metabolites originating from the maternal microbiota are the key players in preparing the neonate’s immunity to the outer world. Birth represents the biggest substantial environmental change in life, where the newborn leaves the protective amniotic sac and is exposed for the first time to a countless variety of microbes. Colonization of all body surfaces commences, including skin, lung, and gastrointestinal tract, leading to the establishment of the commensal microbiota and the maturation of the newborn immune system, and hence lifelong health. Pregnancy, birth, and the consumption of breast milk shape the immune development in coordination with maternal and newborn microbiota. Discrepancies in these fine-tuned microbiota interactions during each developmental stage can have long-term effects on disease susceptibility, such as metabolic syndrome, childhood asthma, or autoimmune type 1 diabetes. In this review, we will give an overview of the recent studies by discussing the multifaceted emergence of the newborn innate immune development in line with the importance of maternal and early life microbiota exposure and breast milk intake.

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Soluble CD14 in human breast milk and its role in innate immune responses

Acta Odontologica Scandinavica ◽

10.1080/000163501750541219 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 59 (5) ◽

pp. 330-334 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Karine Vidal ◽

Mario O. Labéta ◽

Eduardo J. Schiffrin ◽

Anne Donnet-Hughes

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Human Breast ◽

Soluble Cd14

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Breastfeeding and Gut Microbiota

Infant Feeding - Breast versus Formula ◽

10.5772/intechopen.92404 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Bita Najafian ◽

Mohammad Hossein Khosravi

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Breast Milk ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

Human Breast ◽

Active Components ◽

Health Related

Human breast milk (HBM) not only is a source of nutrition for infants but also contains a variety of biologically active components and bacterial species. These molecules and bacteria guide both intestinal microbiota and infantile immune system. Recently published studies have found several vital roles for gut microbiota including effects on the individual’s personality, decreased predisposition to the diseases, and a variety of other health-related consequences such as possible therapeutic effects or preventing role. In this chapter the components of human breast milk and its effect on shaping the human gut microbiota have been reviewed.

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Neonatal Diet Impacts Bioregional Microbiota Composition in Piglets Fed Human Breast Milk or Infant Formula

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1093/jn/nxz170 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 149 (12) ◽

pp. 2236-2246 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lauren R Brink ◽

Katelin Matazel ◽

Brian D Piccolo ◽

Anne K Bowlin ◽

Sree V Chintapalli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Breast Milk ◽

Infant Formula ◽

Distal Colon ◽

Cow Milk ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Human Breast ◽

16S Rna ◽

Luminal Region

ABSTRACT Background Early infant diet influences postnatal gut microbial development, which in turn can modulate the developing immune system. Objectives The aim of this study was to characterize diet-specific bioregional microbiota differences in piglets fed either human breast milk (HM) or infant formula. Methods Male piglets (White Dutch Landrace Duroc) were raised on HM or cow milk formula (MF) from postnatal day (PND) 2 to PND 21 and weaned to an ad libitum diet until PND 51. Piglets were euthanized on either PND 21 or PND 51, and the gastrointestinal contents were collected for 16s RNA sequencing. Data were analyzed using the Quantitative Insight into Microbial Ecology. Diversity measurements (Chao1 and Shannon) and the Wald test were used to determine relative abundance. Results At PND 21, the ileal luminal region of HM-fed piglets showed lower Chao1 operational taxonomic unit diversity, while Shannon diversity was lower in cecal, proximal colon (PC), and distal colon (DC) luminal regions, relative to MF-fed piglets. In addition, at PND 51, the HM-fed piglets had lower genera diversity within the jejunum, ileum, PC, and DC luminal regions, relative to MF-fed piglets. At PND 21, Turicibacter was 4- to 5-fold lower in the HM-fed piglets’ ileal, cecal, PC, and DC luminal regions, relative to the MF-fed piglets. Campylobacter is 3- to 6-fold higher in HM-fed piglets duodenal, ileal, cecal, PC, and DC luminal regions, in comparison to MF-fed piglets. Furthermore, the large intestine (cecum, PC, and rectum) luminal region of HM-fed piglets showed 4- to 7-fold higher genera that belong to class Bacteroidia, in comparison to MF-fed piglets at PND 21. In addition, at PND 51 distal colon lumen of HM-fed piglets showed 1.5-fold higher genera from class Bacteroidia than the MF-fed piglets. Conclusions In the large intestinal regions (cecum, PC, and rectum), MF diet alters microbiota composition, relative to HM diet, with sustained effects after weaning from the neonatal diet. These microbiota changes could impact immune system and health outcomes later in life.

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Role of the Human Breast Milk-Associated Microbiota on the Newborns’ Immune System: A Mini Review

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2017.02100 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Marco Toscano ◽

Roberta De Grandi ◽

Enzo Grossi ◽

Lorenzo Drago

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Breast Milk ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

Human Breast ◽

System A

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Effect of human breast milk on innate immune response: Up-regulation of bacterial pattern recognition receptors and innate cytokines in THP-1 monocytic cells

European Journal of Inflammation ◽

10.1177/20587392211026107 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 205873922110261

Author(s):

Won-Ho Hahn ◽

Soon Young Shin ◽

Jun Hwan Song ◽

Nam Mi Kang

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Pattern Recognition ◽

Breast Milk ◽

Phagocytic Activity ◽

Pattern Recognition Receptors ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

Human Breast ◽

Monocytic Cells ◽

Raw264.7 Macrophages

Human breast milk (HBM) contains many bioactive components that protect infants from various microorganisms. Pattern recognition receptors on phagocytic cells recognize microbial pathogens and promote the innate immune system. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of HBM on the expression of pattern recognition receptors and innate cytokines in the monocytic cell line THP-1 and the phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 macrophages. Expression levels of specific mRNAs in THP-1 cells were quantitated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Phagocytic activity was measured by fluorescence microscopy to detect the uptake of fluorescent dye-labeled carboxylate-modified polystyrene latex beads in RAW264.7 macrophages. HBM stimulated the phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 macrophages. HBM increased mRNA expression of pattern recognition receptors, including the cluster of differentiation 14 and toll-like receptor 2 and 4, and various innate cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, C-X-C motif chemokine 8, and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2, in THP-1 monocytic cells. Furthermore, milk oligosaccharides in HBM, such as lacto- N-fucopentaose I, enhanced the expression of pattern recognition receptors and various innate cytokines. HBM is able to modulate the innate immune response by upregulating the expression of pattern recognition receptors and various innate cytokines in monocytes/macrophages.

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