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Interleukin-10 in human milk
1University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pediatrics, Galveston 77555-0369, USA.
Insights
Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is present in human milk, potentially offering anti-inflammatory benefits to infants. This bioactive cytokine was found in both aqueous and lipid fractions, suggesting protective roles in the infant
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Lactation Biology
Background:
- Human milk contains numerous bioactive components crucial for infant development and immunity.
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a key cytokine with known immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence, characteristics, and bioactivity of IL-10 in human milk during early lactation.
- To explore the potential source and functional implications of IL-10 in human milk for the infant.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of immunoreactive IL-10 in aqueous and lipid milk fractions using immunoassays.
- Gel filtration chromatography to determine IL-10 molecular weight.
- Bioactivity assays using human blood lymphocytes and [3H]thymidine uptake.
- Detection of IL-10 mRNA and protein in cultured mammary epithelial cells and milk leukocytes.
Main Results:
- Immunoreactive IL-10 was detected in human milk, with concentrations ranging from 66 to 9301 pg/mL.
- IL-10 was found in both aqueous and lipid fractions and in a high molecular weight complex.
- Human milk IL-10 demonstrated bioactivity by inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation, an effect partially reversed by anti-IL-10 antibodies.
- IL-10 mRNA was present in mammary epithelial cells, but protein production was not confirmed; milk leukocytes contained some IL-10 but were not identified as the primary source.
Conclusions:
- Bioactive IL-10 is present in human milk, likely in a protected form.
- Human milk IL-10 may exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects on the infant's gastrointestinal tract.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the origin and specific functions of IL-10 in neonatal immunity via human milk.
Abstract:
The concentrations of immunoreactive IL-10 in the aqueous fraction of 20 specimens of human milk obtained during the first 80 h of lactation and stored at -60 degrees C ranged from 66 to 9301 pg/mL (mean +/- SD, 3304 +/- 3127 pg/mL). IL-10 was present also in the lipid layer of milk. Gel filtration revealed that IL-10 was located in a high molecular weight fraction, where certain other cytokines in human milk have been found. In addition, immunoreactive IL-10 in milk increased after treatment with sodium taurocholate. Bioactive IL-10 was demonstrated by the finding that human milk inhibited [3H]thymidine uptake by human blood lymphocytes and that inhibition was partly overcome by concomitant incubation with antibodies to human IL-10. IL-10 mRNA but no protein product was found in cultured human mammary epithelial cells. Some IL-10 was associated with preparations of human milk leukocytes, but the data did not suggest that the cells were producing the cytokine. Bioactive IL-10 in a possible protected compartment suggests that IL-10 in human milk may have immunomodulating, antiinflammatory effects on the alimentary tract of the recipient infant.