Human milk triggers coagulation via tissue factor-exposing extracellular vesicles

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Hematology
• Neonatal Research

Background:

• Human milk's procoagulant properties were known for nearly a century.
• The specific milk component responsible for activating coagulation remained unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the component in human milk that triggers coagulation.
• To investigate the stability and characteristics of this component.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in human milk.
• Assay of coagulant activity of milk components.
• Testing stability under digestive conditions and pasteurization.

Main Results:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in human milk expose coagulant tissue factor (TF).
• This TF activity is resistant to simulated infant digestive conditions.
• Pasteurization of donor milk eliminates TF-exposing EVs' coagulant activity.
• Bovine milk, used in infant formula, lacks this coagulant activity.

Conclusions:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) exposing tissue factor (TF) are the key coagulant component in human milk.
• These findings have implications for neonatal intensive care units and infant nutrition.
• The physiological role of TF-exposing EVs may involve infant protection or wound healing in breastfeeding mothers.