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Differential modulation of the immune response by breast- or formula-feeding of infants
H F Pabst1, D W Spady, L M Pilarski
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Insights
Breastfeeding impacts infant immunity long-term. Breastfed infants show enhanced immune responses, including increased interferon-gamma and specific T cell populations after vaccination, unlike formula-fed infants.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Infant feeding practices, such as breastfeeding and formula feeding, can influence immune system development.
- Understanding the long-term immunomodulatory effects of feeding mode is crucial for infant health.
- Lymphocyte function and T cell responses are key indicators of immune status in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of breastfeeding versus formula feeding on infant immune responses.
- To compare lymphocyte function, cytokine production, and T cell changes in breastfed and formula-fed infants.
- To determine if feeding mode influences immune system maturation and response to vaccination.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of lymphocyte integrin expression at 6 months in breastfed and formula-fed infants.
- Assessment of lymphocyte blast transformation, cytokine production (interferon-gamma), and T cell populations (CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD56+) before and after measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination in 12-month-old infants.
- Statistical analysis to determine significant differences between feeding groups.
Main Results:
- Lower spontaneous integrin expression on CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ lymphocytes at 6 months in breastfed infants compared to formula-fed infants.
- Before MMR vaccination, breastfed infants exhibited lower lymphocyte blast transformation and interferon-gamma production.
- Post-MMR vaccination, breastfed infants showed increased interferon-gamma production and higher percentages of CD56+ and CD8+ cells, indicating a Th1-type immune response not observed in formula-fed infants.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding confers a long-term immunomodulatory effect on infants extending beyond the weaning period.
- Breastfed infants demonstrate a more robust and appropriate Th1-type immune response to live viral vaccination.
- Feeding mode significantly influences immune system development and vaccine responsiveness in early childhood.
Abstract:
Spontaneous integrin expression on CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ lymphocytes at 6 months was significantly lower in breastfed than formula-fed infants (p < 0.05). In another study of 59 formula-fed and 64 breastfed 12-month-old children blast transformation and cytokine production by lymphocytes, and T cell changes were measured before and after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination (MMR). Before vaccination, lymphocytes of breastfed children had lower levels of blast transformation without antigen (p < 0.001), with tetanus toxoid (p < 0.02) or Candida (p < 0.04), and lower interferon-gamma production (p < 0.03). Fourteen days after the live viral vaccination, only the breastfed children had increased production of interferon-gamma (p < 0.02) and increased percentages of CD56+ (p < 0.022) and CD8+ cells (p < 0.004). These findings are consistent with a Th1 type response by breastfed children, not evident in formula-fed children. Feeding mode has an important long-term immunomodulating effect on infants beyond weaning.