A new insight into the exosome protein and lipid composition in camel colostrum and mature milk using comparative...

Camel milk exosomes from colostrum (C) and mature milk (M) were characterized using proteomics and lipidomics to elucidate their compositional and functional differences. Isolated exosomes exhibited round and cup-like concave spheres of 30 to 150 nm and higher TSG101 expression in colostrum. Proteomic analysis identified 2479 proteins, with 843 differentially expressed (357 upregulated, 486 downregulated) between C and M, enriched in PI3K-AKT signaling, endocytosis, and complement/coagulation pathways, suggesting roles in immune regulation and neonatal development. Lipidomics revealed 1783 lipid species (37 subclasses), with 149 significantly altered between C and M, including SM (d42:4; FC = 221.887) and LPE (18:3; FC = 0.139). Colostrum exosomes were enriched in sphingomyelins and glycerophospholipids, while mature milk contained higher lysophospholipids, reflecting stage-specific nutritional adaptations. These findings provide novel insights into camel milk exosome biology, highlighting their potential as biomarkers and functional food components for infant nutrition and health applications.