Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation Centre for Immunology and Breastfeeding, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2024 Sep;35(9):e14226. doi: 10.1111/pai.14226.
Immunomodulatory proteins in human milk (HM) can shape infant immune development. However, strategies to modulate their levels are currently unknown. This study investigated whether maternal prebiotic supplementation alters the levels of immunomodulatory proteins in HM.
The study was nested within the SYMBA double-blind randomized controlled trial (ACTRN12615001075572), which investigated the effects of maternal prebiotic (short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides/long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides) supplementation from <21 weeks gestation during pregnancy until 6 months postnatal during lactation on child allergic disease risk. Mother-child dyads receiving prebiotics (n = 46) or placebo (n = 54) were included in this study. We measured the levels of 24 immunomodulatory proteins in HM collected at 2, 4, and 6 months.
Cluster analysis showed that the overall immunomodulatory protein composition of milk samples from both groups was similar. At 2 months, HM of prebiotic-supplemented women had decreased levels of TGF-β1 and TSLP (95% CI: -17.4 [-29.68, -2.28] and -57.32 [-94.22, -4.7] respectively) and increased levels of sCD14 (95% CI: 1.81 [0.17, 3.71]), when compared to the placebo group. At 4 months, IgG1 was lower in the prebiotic group (95% CI: -1.55 [-3.55, -0.12]) compared to placebo group.
This exploratory study shows that prebiotic consumption by lactating mothers selectively alters specific immunomodulatory proteins in HM. This finding is crucial for understanding how prebiotic dietary recommendations for pregnant and lactating women can modify the immune properties of HM and potentially influence infant health outcomes through immune support from breastfeeding.
人乳中的免疫调节蛋白可影响婴儿的免疫发育。然而，目前尚不清楚调节其水平的策略。本研究旨在探讨母体补充益生元是否会改变人乳中免疫调节蛋白的水平。
该研究嵌套于 SYMBA 双盲随机对照试验中（ACTRN12615001075572），该试验研究了从妊娠 21 周前至哺乳期 6 个月期间，母亲补充益生元（短链半乳糖寡糖/长链果糖寡糖）对儿童过敏疾病风险的影响。接受益生元（n=46）或安慰剂（n=54）的母婴对被纳入本研究。我们检测了 2、4 和 6 个月时人乳中 24 种免疫调节蛋白的水平。
聚类分析显示，两组人乳样本的整体免疫调节蛋白组成相似。在 2 个月时，与安慰剂组相比，补充益生元的女性人乳中 TGF-β1 和 TSLP 的水平降低（95%CI：-17.4[-29.68，-2.28]和-57.32[-94.22，-4.7]），sCD14 的水平升高（95%CI：1.81[0.17，3.71]）。在 4 个月时，与安慰剂组相比，益生元组 IgG1 水平降低（95%CI：-1.55[-3.55，-0.12]）。
本探索性研究表明，哺乳期母亲补充益生元可选择性地改变人乳中的特定免疫调节蛋白。这一发现对于理解孕妇和哺乳期妇女的益生元饮食建议如何改变人乳的免疫特性以及通过母乳喂养提供免疫支持从而可能影响婴儿健康结局具有重要意义。
