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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Rapid Isolation of Human Breast Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles
04:35

Rapid Isolation of Human Breast Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Published on: November 14, 2025

Potential of Breast Milk Exosomes in Modulating Infant Developmental Programming: A Multi-Omics Study Based on a

Ying Lyu1, Yalin Zhou1,2, Xiaoyu Zhu1

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.

Nutrients
|July 15, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Human breast milk exosomes change composition over lactation, impacting infant development. These changes in microRNAs, lipids, and proteins suggest a role in adipogenesis and neurodevelopment.

Area of Science:

  • Human biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Human breast milk (HBM) is crucial for infant development.
  • Exosomes in HBM are bioactive but their nutritional role is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate changes in HBM exosomes during lactation.
  • Determine the role of HBM exosomes in infant growth and development.

Main Methods:

  • Collected HBM at 2 and 6 months postpartum.
  • Utilized transcriptomic, lipidomic, and proteomic analyses.
  • Analyzed multi-omics data for differential expression and association with infant growth.

Main Results:

  • Down-regulation of specific microRNAs (e.g., miR-214-3p) at 6 months postpartum.
  • Differential expression of numerous lipids and proteins.
  • Enrichment analysis indicated roles in cell communication, axon guidance, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and fatty acid metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • HBM exosome cargo changes with lactation, adapting to infant needs.
  • Exosomes may influence infant adipogenesis and neurodevelopment.
  • Further research is needed to validate the mechanisms of HBM exosome transfer and function.
Abstract

Keywords:
adipogenesisexosomehuman breast milkmulti-omicsneurodevelopment

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