Inflammation markers and cytokines in breast milk of atopic and nonatopic women.

Abstract

Breast milk is thought to contain its own complex immune system. Whether or not this is altered in allergic individuals is not yet known. By ELISA techniques, inflammatory markers (MIP-1alpha, sICAM-1) and T(H)1 (interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma]), as well as T(H)2 cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4, IL-10), were investigated in serum and milk samples from nonallergic (n = 23) lactating women and those with respiratory allergies (n = 19) during the first week postpartum. IFN-gamma was not detected in either serum or milk. IL-10 was more often found to be above the detection limit in both milk and serum samples from allergic mothers. IL-4 was detected in almost all serum samples with a wide variation. In milk, IL-4 was found in about 20% of the samples. MIP-1alpha was not detected in the serum but was detected in the milk of 23% of the nonatopic and 53% of the allergic mothers. Soluble ICAM-1 was present in all samples. Surprisingly, serum levels of sICAM-1 in allergic mothers (271+/-97 ng/ml) were significantly lower (P<0.001) than in nonatopic subjects (375+/-86 ng/ml). Concentrations of sICAM-1 in milk were similar in both groups. The concentrations of proinflammatory markers and cytokines in breast milk did not differ significantly between allergic and nonatopic mothers. In some individuals, high levels of MIP-1alpha, IL-10, and sICAM-1 could be found. However, the significance of these components for the breastfed infant is still unclear.