title: Human milk glycoproteins protect infants against human pathogens.
abstract: Breastfeeding protects the neonate against pathogen infection. Major mechanisms of protection include human milk glycoconjugates functioning as soluble receptor mimetics that inhibit pathogen binding to the mucosal cell surface, prebiotic stimulation of gut colonization by favorable microbiota, immunomodulation, and as a substrate for bacterial fermentation products in the gut. Human milk proteins are predominantly glycosylated, and some biological functions of these human milk glycoproteins (HMGPs) have been reported. HMGPs range in size from 14 kDa to 2,000 kDa and include mucins, secretory immunoglobulin A, bile salt-stimulated lipase, lactoferrin, butyrophilin, lactadherin, leptin, and adiponectin. This review summarizes known biological roles of HMGPs that may contribute to the ability of human milk to protect neonates from disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Newburg
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D001942:Breast Feeding; D000071797:Butyrophilins; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009077:Mucins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000071797:Butyrophilins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; C098942:MFGE8 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008894:Milk Proteins; D009077:Mucins; C054621:CEL protein, human; D008049:Lipase; D007781:Lactoferrin