title: Human breast milk and adipokines--A potential role for the soluble leptin receptor (sOb-R) in the regulation of infant energy intake and development.
abstract: Concentrations of different adipokines in human breast milk are thought to be able to affect energy intake of the infant. Leptin is a hormone synthesized by adipose tissue and the human placenta and favors satiety. The availability of leptin in breast milk is influenced by epithelial cells of the mammary gland that are known to be able to produce leptin, as well as leptin from maternal circulation that is transported to the breast milk, and which can thus in turn reach neonatal blood after absorption. Research so far as mainly focused on leptin concentrations in breast milk. However, evidence suggests that in addition to leptin concentrations levels of the so-called soluble leptin receptor (sOb-R), the main high-affinity binding protein for leptin in humans, are necessary in order to calculate the free leptin index (FLI) and to assess function of the leptin axis. FLI is calculated from the ratio of leptin to the sOb-R, and serves as the main parameter for assessing function of the leptin axis throughout maturation and development. Here we propose that assessing sOb-R levels in addition to leptin concentrations in breast milk could serve as a valuable tool to investigate effects of the leptin axis in breast milk because sOb-R concentrations can impact available leptin levels, and which in turn can have significant implications for infant energy intake and related development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Paediatrics and Child Health & School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia (M561), Perth, WA, Australia; Specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. Electronic address: florian.zepf@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Zepf
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Paediatrics and Child Health & School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia (M561), Perth, WA, Australia; Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Paediatrics and Child Health & School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia (M561), Perth, WA, Australia; Paediatric Consultation-Liaison Program, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Department of Health in Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Paediatrics and Child Health & School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia (M561), Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Paediatrics and Child Health & School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia (M561), Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Yuli Martinez
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ladino
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neonatal Research and Education, The University of Western Australia (M551), Perth, WA, Australia; The Perron Rotary Express Milk Bank, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000276:immunology*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D054411:Receptors, Leptin