title: Fibronectin synthesis bioactivity in human breast milk.
abstract: To evaluate the effect of milk feeding on fibronectin in the perinatal period, fibronectin synthesis bioactivity (FnSA) in human breast milk was examined. FnSA was measured by bioassay using the cell-lined fibroblast. For the characterization of the FnSA, the milk samples were chromatographed. In gel chromatography (Sephadex G-100), three fractions of FnSA were detected. Two fractions overlapped with those of immunoreactive epidermal growth factor (ir-EGF). The other was present in the low-molecular-weight portion. In the high-performance liquid chromatography, two of four fractions with FnSA presented ir-EGF. One of two fractions with FnSA in heparin-binding affinity chromatography almost coincided with the portions of basic brain fibroblast growth factor (ir-bFGF). From these findings, we speculated that human milk has the bioactivity of fibronectin synthesis and it is composed of EGF, FGF, and unknown low-molecular-weight factors. Although the clinical meanings of FnSA have not been clarified, our data indicate a new characteristic of human milk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuroume
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor