title: Identification of sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with the levels of human β-defensin-1 and human β-defensin-2 in the human milk of Han Chinese.
abstract: Human milk provides infants with various immune molecules. The objective of the present study was to measure human β-defensin-1 (hBD-1) and human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) levels in the colostrum and mature milk of healthy Han Chinese, to identify factors regulating milk hBD-1 and hBD-2 expression and to explore the potential protective effect of milk hBD-1 and hBD-2 on infants. A total of 100 mothers and their babies were recruited into the study. Sociodemographic characteristics and other factors were obtained by a questionnaire. Babies were followed up for a period of 6 months. Colostrum samples (n 100) and mature milk samples (n 82) were collected by hand expression. The hBD-1 and hBD-2 concentrations were measured by ELISA. The hBD-1 and hBD-2 levels differed in the colostrum and mature milk. In the colostrum, the concentration ranges of hBD-1 and hBD-2 were 1·04-12·81 μg/ml and 0·31-19·12 ng/ml, respectively. In mature milk, the hBD-1 and hBD-2 levels were 1·03-31·76 ng/ml and 52·65-182·29 pg/ml, respectively. Several independent factors influence their production. The multivariable analysis showed a strong association between pre-pregnancy BMI and hBD-1 levels in the colostrum (P=0·001), mode of delivery was significantly associated with hBD-2 levels in the colostrum (P=0·006) and gestational age was significantly associated with hBD-1 levels in mature milk (P= 0·010). During the first 6 months of life, the incidence rate of upper respiratory infection was found to be less in the high-colostrum hBD-1 group than in the low-colostrum hBD-1 group (χ²=4·995, P=0·025). The present study suggested that the abundance of hBD-1 in the colostrum may have a protective function against upper respiratory infection for infants younger than 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rui-Ming
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Beingmate Research Center for Human Breast Milk, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Beingmate Research Center for Human Breast Milk, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tong-Xin
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects; D002657:Child Development; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins