Digested Early Preterm Human Milk Suppresses Tumor Necrosis Factor-induced Inflammation and Cytotoxicity in Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of digested whole human milk (HM; first sample available after birth from mothers of premature infants) on inflammation, oxidative stress, and cytotoxicity in Caco-2 human intestinal epithelial cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharides or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to mimic the potential in vivo insults facing the premature infant's gastrointestinal tract.

METHODS

Fully differentiated Caco-2 cells were exposed to digested HM (n = 10; samples from 10 different individuals) before stimulation with lipopolysaccharides, TNF, or no stimulation overnight. Inflammation was determined by production of interleukin-8, oxidative stress by levels of F2-isoprostane, and cytotoxicity by released lactate dehydrogenase.

RESULTS

HM significantly suppressed interleukin-8 production and cytotoxicity in TNF-stimulated cells, while also suppressing cell death under baseline conditions. Individual HM samples differed widely in their ability to modulate cellular responses.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study provide evidence that digested HM can reduce both an exaggerated inflammatory response and intestinal damage that contribute to the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis.