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Isolation of Leukocytes from Human Breast Milk for Use in an Antibody-dependent Cellular Phagocytosis Assay of HIV Targets
Published on: September 6, 2019
IgA nephropathy-associated breast milk B cell alterations
Katerina Zachova1,2, Alica Cutkova1, Petr Kosztyu1,2
1Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czechia.
Frontiers in Immunology
|May 25, 2026
Summary
Mothers with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) show altered breast milk B cells, with higher Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and a shift towards antibody-producing cells. These findings suggest EBV-associated B cell dysregulation in IgAN pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nephrology
- Virology
Background:
- IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is linked to mucosal immunity and overproduction of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1).
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects IgA+ B cells, potentially playing a role in IgAN, but its exact involvement is unclear.
- Breast milk B cells were studied as representatives of mucosal tissue to investigate IgAN pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize B cells in breast milk from mothers with IgAN and healthy controls.
- To investigate the presence and impact of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in these B cells.
- To understand alterations in B cell differentiation, IgA/Gd-IgA1 expression, and homing markers in IgAN.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic analysis of B cells, plasmablasts, and CD138+ cells (CPCs) in breast milk using flow cytometry and microscopy.
- Detection of EBV infection using EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) in breast milk cells.
- Characterization of B cell differentiation, IgA/Gd-IgA1 expression, and mucosal homing receptors (CCR9).
Main Results:
- Breast milk from IgAN mothers had a higher proportion of EBER+ B cells and EBER+ CPCs compared to healthy controls.
- B cells from IgAN mothers showed increased expression of the mucosal homing receptor CCR9.
- Breast milk from IgAN mothers was enriched for Gd-IgA1+ CD138+ CPCs, indicating a shift towards terminally differentiated antibody-producing cells.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest EBV-associated B cell dysregulation in mothers with IgAN.
- Enrichment of EBV+ and Gd-IgA1+ CPCs in IgAN breast milk supports models of aberrant mucosal B cell differentiation and trafficking in IgAN.
- Alterations in B cell differentiation and compartmentalization, rather than increased mucosal Gd-IgA1 production, appear significant in IgAN.
Keywords:
B cellsEpstein–Barr virusIgA nephropathybreast milkgalactose deficient IgA1migrating pre-plasma cellsmucosal immunityMore Related Videos
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