Interleukin-18 in human milk.
We analyzed IL-18 levels of human milk. Colostrum contained significantly higher levels of IL-18 compared with early milk and mature milk. By stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, preterm delivery and pregnancy complications of mothers significantly correlated with high levels of IL-18 in human milk (p = 0.0007 and 0.0018, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the levels of IL-18 and soluble Fas ligand in colostrum (p = 0.0003). IL-18 was detected in actively secreting epithelial cells in lactating mammary gland by immunohistochemical staining. These results suggest that IL-18 in colostrum plays an important role in host defense of high-risk neonates.
Takahata
Y
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Takada
H
H
Nomura
A
A
Ohshima
K
K
Nakayama
H
H
Tsuda
T
T
Nakano
H
H
Hara
T
T
D001483:Base Sequence; D001940:Breast / Q000276:immunology; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D017931:DNA Primers; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D020382:Interleukin-18; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma