title: The presence of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) in umbilical cord blood in both healthy and pre-eclamptic pregnancies and in human breast milk.
abstract: B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is an important immune regulator that was recently reported to be secreted by placenta. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of BAFF in umbilical cord blood, maternal serum, and breast milk in normal and in pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Pairs of maternal serum/umbilical cord blood were obtained from 12 pre-eclamptic and 34 physiological pregnancies. Another cohort of 10 healthy lactating women was established that was followed up for 6 months following delivery to investigate BAFF levels in breast milk. BAFF levels in maternal peripheral blood were significantly higher in physiological pregnancies than in pre-eclamptic pregnancies (p < 0.03). Furthermore, we observed a consistent presence of BAFF in breast milk during the 6-month post-partum period of breastfeeding. In this study, we demonstrate that BAFF levels are significantly lower in maternal peripheral blood in pre-eclamptic pregnancies. We also report the consistent presence of BAFF in breast milk in healthy women. More research into the role of BAFF in pregnancy, and during breastfeeding, is imperative.
authors: Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, A18, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic; Department of Paediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Černopolní 22, Brno 613 00, Czech Republic; Regional Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: jbienert@med.muni.cz.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Bienertova-Vasku
authors: Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, A18, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic.
authors: Filip
authors: F
authors: Zlamal
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, A16, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic.
authors: Josef
authors: J
authors: Tomandl
authors: Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Brno, Obilní trh 11, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic.
authors: Zuzana
authors: Z
authors: Hodicka
authors: Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, A18, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Novak
authors: Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, A18, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic.
authors: Zbynek
authors: Z
authors: Splichal
authors: Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Brno, Obilní trh 11, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic.
authors: Pavel
authors: P
authors: Ventruba
authors: Department of Immunology, St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekařská 53, Brno 656 91, Czech Republic.
authors: Vojtech
authors: V
authors: Thon
authors: Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, A18, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Vasku
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human
keywords: BAFF; Breast milk; Cord blood; Lactation; Pre-eclampsia