Secretory IgA: Linking microbes, maternal health, and infant health through human milk

Katherine Donald; Charisse Petersen; Stuart E Turvey; B Brett Finlay; Meghan B Azad

doi:10.1016/j.chom.2022.02.005

Secretory IgA: Linking microbes, maternal health, and infant health through human milk

Cell Host Microbe. 2022 May 11;30(5):650-659. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.02.005.

Authors

Katherine Donald¹, Charisse Petersen², Stuart E Turvey², B Brett Finlay³, Meghan B Azad⁴

Affiliations

¹ Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
² Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
³ Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC), Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Electronic address: meghan.azad@umanitoba.ca.

PMID: 35550668
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.02.005

Abstract

Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in human milk plays a central role in complex maternal-infant interactions that influence long-term health outcomes. Governed by genetics and maternal microbial exposure, human milk SIgA shapes both the microbiota and immune system of infants. Historically, SIgA-microbe interactions have been challenging to unravel due to their dynamic and personalized nature, particularly during early life. Recent advances have helped to clarify how SIgA acts beyond simple pathogen clearance to help guide and constrain a healthy microbiota, promote tolerance, and influence immune system development. In this review, we highlight these new findings in the context of the critical early-life window and propose outstanding areas of study that will be key to harnessing the benefits of SIgA to support healthy immune development during infancy.

Keywords: SIgA; breast milk; breastfeeding; human milk; immunity; immunoglobulin A; infancy; infection; microbiome.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin A, Secretory*
Infant
Infant Health
Maternal Health
Microbiota*
Milk, Human

Substances

Immunoglobulin A, Secretory