SYDNEY, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Researchers in Australia have found how breastmilk supports infant immunity via a protein called osteopontin, in a study which also identifies a potential way of mimicking this protective effect in baby formula.
The findings, published in the journal Cell, reveal osteopontin triggers a cascade of biological signals that support immune cell development in a baby's liver and lungs, and help protect against potentially deadly respiratory infections, according to a statement released Tuesday by Australia's QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
"We looked at the infant lung cells that line the airways when the osteopontin was missing. It was like night and day," said Prof. Simon Phipps from QIMR Berghofer's Respiratory Immunology Lab.
Researchers said osteopontin, which is found at high levels in breastmilk in the first weeks after childbirth, affected the infant's microbiota composition, leading to an increase in the production of bacterial metabolites that activated growth factors in the liver and lungs, strengthening the immune system.
The team also found that rosiglitazone, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, could mimic the effects of osteopontin by activating the same immune-supporting pathway, producing similar protective effects against respiratory infections in preclinical models.
The findings raise the possibility of developing new approaches to support infant immune development and could inform future improvements to infant formula products. While some infant formula contains cow's milk osteopontin, levels are lower than those found in human breastmilk.
Phipps said further tests are needed to determine whether osteopontin may also help prevent the onset of allergic diseases such as eczema and asthma. Enditem
京公网安备 11010802027341号