title: Assessment of Growth Factors Secreted by Human Breastmilk Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human breastmilk is a dynamic, multifaceted biological fluid containing nutrients, bioactive substances, and growth factors. It is effective in supporting growth and development of an infant. As breastmilk has been found to possess mesenchymal stem cells, the importance of the components of breastmilk and their physiological roles is increasing day by day. The present study was intended to identify the secretions of growth factors, mainly vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), from human breastmilk mesenchymal stem cells under basal conditions of in vitro cell culture using synthetic media and human cord serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The growth factors were analyzed with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cultured mesenchymal stem cells of breastmilk without serum revealed significant differences in secretions of the VEGF and HGF growth factors (8.55 ± 2.26402 pg/mL and 230.8 ± 45.9861 pg/mL, respectively) compared with mesenchymal stem cells of breastmilk with serum (21.31 ± 4.69 pg/mL and 2,404.42 ± 481.593 pg/mL, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results obtained from our study demonstrate that both VEGF and HGF are secreted in vitro by human breastmilk mesenchymal stem cells. The roles of VEGF and HGF in surfactant secretion, pulmonary maturation, and neonatal maturity have been well established. Thus, we emphasize that breastmilk-derived MSCs could be a potent therapeutic source in treating neonatal diseases. Besides, due to its immense potency, the study also emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding, which is promoted by organizations like the World Heatlh Organization and UNICEF.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Biochemistry, P.D. Patel Institute of Applied Sciences, Charotar University of Science and Technology , Changa, Gujarat, India .
authors.forename: Pankaj Mahipatrao
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kaingade
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, National Institute of Nutrition , Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Indumathi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Somasundaram
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Biochemistry, P.D. Patel Institute of Applied Sciences, Charotar University of Science and Technology , Changa, Gujarat, India .
authors.forename: Amar Babaso
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Nikam
authors.affiliation: 3 Regenerative Medicine Group, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India .
authors.forename: Shabari Amit
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sarang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Biochemistry, P.D. Patel Institute of Applied Sciences, Charotar University of Science and Technology , Changa, Gujarat, India .
authors.forename: Jagdish Shantilal
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D061186:Breast Milk Expression / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C066855:HGF protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor