Transforming growth factor-beta in breast milk: a potential regulator of atopic disease at an early age.
BACKGROUND
According to data from animal and in vitro studies, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has a crucial effect on 2 essential parts of the mucosal immune system: IgA production and oral tolerance induction.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to ascertain whether TGF-beta in breast milk is associated with specific IgA production and atopic disease in human subjects.


METHODS
Forty-seven infants with several atopic family members were followed during their first year of life. The concentrations of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 in maternal colostrum, mature milk, and the infants' sera were determined. The enzyme-linked immunospot assay was used to assess the infants' specific IgA production in response to beta-lactoglobulin, casein, gliadin, and ovalbumin.


RESULTS
At 12 months, atopic dermatitis was confirmed in 29 of 47 infants; in 11, atopic disease had begun during exclusive breast-feeding (preweaning onset), whereas in 18 the disease manifested itself after weaning (postweaning onset). The concentrations of both TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 were higher in maternal colostrum, but not in mature milk and infants' serum, in infants with postweaning-onset atopic disease compared with those with preweaning-onset disease (P =.0008 and P =. 015, respectively). The concentration of TGF-beta2 was, and that of TGF-beta1 tended to be, higher in the colostrum of mothers whose infants had specific IgA-secreting cells at 3 months in response to at least one of the dietary antigens tested compared with those who did not have such cells (P =.048 and P =.076, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-beta in colostrum may prevent the development of atopic disease during exclusive breast-feeding and promote specific IgA production in human subjects.
Kalliomäki
M
M
Departments of Paediatrics and Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, Finland.
Ouwehand
A
A
Arvilommi
H
H
Kero
P
P
Isolauri
E
E
D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000378:metabolism*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta