title: What is the role of cytokines in human colostrum?
abstract: No one has ever doubted that maternal milk, in comparison to formula milk, has a far superior nutritional value. Colostrum has a well acknowledge crucial value for the survival of the animal species that cannot receive immunoglobulins through the placenta. Until recently the presence of cytokines in colostrum was unsuspected but it has been now clarified that normally there are at least four cytokines, namely interleukin 1 and 6, tumor necrosis factor and interferon gamma, that may exert an important immunostimulatory role particularly on the oropharyngeal-associated lymphoid tissue. As a corollary, physiological concentration of cytokines administered per os may exert a useful adjuvant activity in aged or immunodeficient people.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Physiology, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bocci
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: von Bremen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corradeschi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luzzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paulesu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007372:Interferons