Does the immune system of milk increase activity for infants experiencing infectious disease episodes in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Bibliographic Data

ID19459693
AuthorsK Wander (0000-0002-4913-5075, Department of Anthropology Binghamton University (SUNY) Binghamton New York USA, corresponding author), M Fujita (0000-0001-9173-6678, Department of Anthropology Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA), M Mattison (0000-0002-9537-5459, University of New Mexico), Siobhán Mattison (Department of Anthropology University of New Mexico Albuquerque New Mexico USA), Megan Gauck (0000-0003-3629-4373, Department of Anthropology Binghamton University (SUNY) Binghamton New York USA), Margaret Duris (0000-0001-7526-296X, Department of Anthropology Binghamton University (SUNY) Binghamton New York USA), Ireen Kiwelu (0000-0001-5189-4997, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute Moshi Tanzania), Blandina T Mmbaga (0000-0002-5550-1916, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute Moshi Tanzania)
Year2023
Volume35
Issue8
Pagese23897-e23897
Publication date2023-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Human Biology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1042-0533 • E-ISSN: 1520-6300
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajhb.23897
PMID36951242
OpenAlexW4360601316
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited28

INTRODUCTION: Multiple studies have reported that milk immune content increases for infants experiencing infectious disease (ID) episodes, suggesting that the immune system of milk (ISOM) offers enhanced protection when needed to combat ID. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that ISOM content and/or activity increases during an infant's ID episode, we characterized milk secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA; a major ISOM constituent) and in vitro interleukin-6 (IL-6) responses to Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli, as system-level biomarkers of ISOM activity, in a prospective study among 96 mother-infant dyads in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. RESULTS: After control for covariates, no milk immune variables (sIgA, Coef: 0.03; 95% CI -0.25, 0.32; in vitro IL-6 response to S. enterica, Coef: 0.23; 95% CI: -0.67, 1.13; IL-6 response to E. coli, Coef: -0.11; 95% CI: -0.98, 0.77) were associated with prevalent ID (diagnosed at the initial participation visit). Among infants experiencing an incident ID (diagnosed subsequent to the initial participation), milk immune content and responses were not substantially higher or lower than the initial visit (sIgA, N: 61; p: 0.788; IL-6 response to S. enterica, N: 56; p: 0.896; IL-6 response to E. coli, N: 36; p: 0.683); this was unchanged by exclusion of infants with ID at the time of initial participation. CONCLUSION: These findings are not consistent with the hypothesis that milk delivers enhanced immune protection when infants experience ID. In environments with a high burden of ID, dynamism may be less valuable to maternal reproductive success than stability in the ISOM

Bacteria · Biology · Disease · Immune system · Salmonella · Salmonella enterica · Tanzania · COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction · Infant Nutrition and Health · Medicine · Pediatric health and respiratory diseases · Immunology · Internal Medicine

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