title: Longitudinal analysis of mature breastmilk and serum immune composition among mixed HIV-status mothers and their infants.
abstract: Understanding mature breastmilk immunology may benefit infants chronically exposed to infectious pathogens in resource-limited regions.
  
  
  
  This prospective rural/semi-rural Tanzanian cohort of women (n = 102 at delivery; 38% HIV-positive) and their infants (n = 102) investigated breastmilk, maternal and infant serum immunoglobulins (IgA/IgG1-4/IgM) and cytokines (IL-1β/IL-2/IL-6/IL-10/IL-12p70/IL-13/IL-15/TNF-α/IFN-γ) at 1, 2, 3, 6-months postpartum.
  
  
  
  Milk immunoglobulins followed an inverse U-shaped pattern, while cytokine patterns were mixed. Exclusive breastfeeding duration and feeding intensity were associated with greater breastmilk total immunoglobulin and IgA, IgG1-3 and IL-12p70 concentrations. Maternal mastitis, fever or cough was associated with higher breastmilk total cytokine concentrations, while infant fever was associated with lower milk immunoglobulins or cytokines. Strong (r ≥ 0.40) to weak (r = 0.20-0.29) positive correlations between maternal serum-breastmilk or breastmilk-infant serum immunoglobulins were evident. Breastmilk cytokines were moderate to weakly negatively correlated with infant serum. Breastmilk immunology did not differ by maternal malnutrition or HIV-seropositivity.
  
  
  
  Mature breastmilk is a dynamic source of many specific and non-specific immune factors associated with maternal and infant health and infant nutrition. Breastfeeding practices are associated with differential breastmilk immunological composition providing immunological support for universal recommendations to exclusively breastfeed for 6-months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.affiliation: Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aura
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andreasen
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Safari M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kinung'hi
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urassa
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Denna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Research Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Changalucha
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, 14853, USA. Electronic address: jmm585@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Joann M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McDermid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins
keywords: Africa; Breastfeeding; Cytokine; Immunoglobulin; Immunology; Stunting