Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
Published on: February 15, 2018
Measurement of growth promoting activity in human milk using a fetal small intestinal cell line
Insights
Human milk promotes intestinal cell growth, with activity highest in colostrum and linked to epidermal growth factor (EGF). Infant formula lacks this growth-promoting effect.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Gastroenterology
- Cell biology
Background:
- The developing intestine is a target for growth factors in human milk.
- Human milk composition changes throughout lactation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the growth-promoting activity of human milk on intestinal cells.
- To identify the key growth factor responsible for this activity.
Main Methods:
- Established a bioassay using a human fetal intestinal cell line (FHS 74 Int).
- Measured growth promotion and epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration in human milk and formula.
Main Results:
- Human milk demonstrated significant growth-promoting activity on cultured intestinal cells.
- Activity was highest in colostrum and decreased over time.
- Formula products showed no growth-promoting activity.
- EGF concentration strongly correlated with the observed growth-promoting activity.
Conclusions:
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is likely the primary factor driving intestinal cell proliferation in human milk.
- Human milk may enhance intestinal cell proliferation and accelerate digestive system maturation in newborns, particularly premature infants.
Abstract:
To evaluate the effect of the growth promoting activity in human milk on intestinal cells, a bioassay method was established using a fetal intestinal cell line (FHS 74 Int, ATCC CCL 241), since the developing intestine is considered to be a target organ for the growth factors present in human milk. Human milk had a growth promoting activity on the cultured human fetal intestinal cells. The activity level was very high in colostrum and decreased gradually during lactation, while formula products had no activity. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration in human milk was significantly correlated with the growth promoting activity measured by bioassay. Thus, EGF may be the main growth factor for the proliferation of intestinal cells. These results suggest that human milk may stimulate the proliferation of intestinal cells in newborn infants, especially in very-low-birth-weight infants, and accelerate the maturation of the intestinal portion of the digestive system.
