Human milk composition differs in healthy mothers and mothers with celiac disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether breast-milk composition and microbiota differ in healthy mothers and mothers with celiac disease (CD) to ultimately contribute to identify additional factors determining CD risk.


METHODS
Breast-milk samples from healthy mothers (n = 12) and mothers with CD (n = 12) were collected. Cytokines and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) were analyzed by bead-arrays and flow cytometry and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) were assessed by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) detection. Breast-milk microbiota composition was analyzed by conventional and quantitative real-time PCR.


RESULTS
Breast milk from CD mothers showed significantly lower levels of interleukin (IL) 12p70 (P < 0.042), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 (P < 0.018) and sIgA (P < 0.003) and almost significantly lower levels of interferon (IFN)-γ (P < 0.058). Six mothers in each group belonged to the secretor Le(a-b+) type, one to the secretor Le(a-b-) type and five to the non-secretor Le(a+b-) type. CD mothers of non-secretor Le(a+b-) type showed increased Lacto-N-tetraose content (P < 0.042) compared with healthy mothers. CD mothers' milk showed reduced gene copy numbers of Bifidobacterium spp. (P < 0.026) and B. fragilis group (P < 0.044).


CONCLUSIONS
CD mothers' breast milk is characterized by a reduced abundance of immunoprotective compounds (TGF-β1 and sIgA) and bifidobacteria. The reduction in these components could theoretically diminish the protective effects of breast-feeding on the child's future risk of developing CD.
Microbial Ecology, Nutrition and Health Research Group, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), IATA-CSIC Av. Agustín Escardino, 7., 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
Marta
M
Olivares
Simone
S
Albrecht
Giada
G
De Palma
María Desamparados
MD
Ferrer
Gemma
G
Castillejo
Henk A
HA
Schols
Yolanda
Y
Sanz
D000328:Adult; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D058889:Molecular Typing; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; C573415:IFNG protein, human; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C013084:lacto-N-neotetraose