title: Modulation by human milk of IgG subclass response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants.
abstract: The influence of breast and formula feeding on specific anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) IgG subclass production and distribution has been investigated in 40 healthy infants, born to HBsAg-positive mothers and vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Twenty children were bottle fed and 20 were breast fed. Specific subclasses were detected at the 4th and 12th months using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies. A defect in total IgG and IgG subclasses was previously excluded. Significant differences were observed both at the 4th and 12th months for IgG1 and IgG2. Breast-fed infants had significantly higher levels of specific IgG2 (about three times higher), while IgG1 levels were significantly higher in formula-fed infants. Anti-HBsAg IgG4 levels were always higher in bottle-fed infants, but a statistical significance was never present. No difference was found in specific IgG3 levels. This study reports the evidence that breast feeding influences specific IgG subclass synthesis against a viral antigen and suggests an immunologic modulation of the response to vaccines dependent not only on age but also on factors present in human milk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Azzari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Resti
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vierucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines