Is there any relationship between cytokine spectrum of breast milk and occurence of eosinophilic colitis?

Acta Paediatr. 2010 Nov;99(11):1666-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.01907.x. Epub 2010 Jul 6.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of our study was to analyse cytokine composition of human milk and its relationship to the development of eosinophilic colitis (EC).

Methods: Cytokines were measured by ELISA method in breast milk of 20 mothers of infants who developed EC and 20 controls.

Results: We found significantly higher concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) (Th1 cytokine) in breast milk received by EC infants compared to controls (p = 0.0004). In contrary, IL-18 (Th1-inducing cytokine) was significantly higher in breast milk received by healthy infants comparing to EC infants (p = 0.001). Regulatory cytokine transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) showed higher concentrations in breast milk received by healthy infants, although the difference from EC group was not significant (p = 0.072).

Conclusion: The results of our study showed that infants with EC were receiving breast milk with a possibly risky cytokine pattern indicating cytokine imbalance, impaired immunoregulation and the early Th1 shift.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Colitis / etiology*
  • Cytokines / analysis*
  • Eosinophilia / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Interferon-gamma / analysis
  • Interleukin-18 / analysis
  • Male
  • Milk, Human / chemistry*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / analysis

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-18
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Interferon-gamma