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. 2022 Feb;38(1):131-140.
doi: 10.1177/08903344211021306. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Changes in Antisecretory Factor in Human Milk During the Postpartum and Length of Gestation

Anna Gustafsson  1   2 , Ewa Johansson  3   4 , Ewa Henckel  1   2 , Stefan Lange  3   4 , Kajsa Bohlin  1   2
Affiliations

Changes in Antisecretory Factor in Human Milk During the Postpartum and Length of Gestation

Anna Gustafsson et al. J Hum Lact. 2022 Feb.

Abstract
in English, Swedish

Background: Preterm infants are more susceptible to inflammatory complications than term infants. Human milk contains numerous bioactive components protecting the newborn infant. Antisecretory factor, a protein regulating secretory and inflammatory processes by complex binding with complement factors, is present in human milk.

Research aims: To describe antisecretory factor (1) in mother's own milk in term and preterm infants; and (2) in donor milk before and after Holder pasteurization.

Methods: The study was prospective, longitudinal, explorative, and descriptive. Antisecretory factor-compleasome was determined using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in longitudinal human milk samples over 12 weeks from mothers (N = 87) of term (n = 41) and of preterm (n = 46) infants and 20 anonymized donor human milk samples before and after Holder pasteurization.

Results: Antisecretory factor-compleasome was overall higher in colostrum versus mature milk (p < .001) and no difference was found in term or preterm colostrum (p = .82). In mature milk, compleasome was higher and more variable in the preterm group (p = .01). After Holder pasteurization, compleasome levels increased (p < .001).

Conclusion: Antisecretory factor followed the pattern of other immunological factors with high levels in colostrum. After preterm birth, levels of antisecretory factor were higher and more variable in mature milk. Holder pasteurization did not degrade antisecretory factor, indicating preserved anti-inflammatory properties in donor human milk.

Bakgrund: För tidigt födda barn har en ökad risk att drabbas av inflammatoriska komplikationer i jämförelse med barn som är födda i fullgången tid. Bröstmjölk innehåller ett stort antal bioaktiva komponenter som skyddar det nyfödda barnet. Antisekretorisk faktor är ett protein som finns också i bröstmjölk och som reglerar sekretoriska och inflammatoriska processer genom att bilda komplex med komplementfaktorer,

Syfte: Att genomföra en deskriptiv kohortstudie av antisekretorisk faktor i mammans egen bröstmjölk relaterat till prematur eller fullgången förlossning, samt studera antisekretorisk faktor i donerad bröstmjölk före och efter pastörisering.

Metod: Studiens design var prospektiv, longitudinell och deskriptiv. Antisekretorisk faktor-kompleasom detekterades med enzymkopplad immunoadsoberande analys i longitudinella bröstmjölksprover insamlade under de första 12 veckorna efter partus från 87 mammor, 46 med prematurfödda barn och 41 med fullgångna barn, samt i 20 anonymiserade bröstmjölksprover från donator före och efter Holder pastörisering.

Resultat: Antisekretorisk faktor-kompleasom var högre i kolostrum jämfört med i mogen bröstmjölk (p = .001) och i kolostrum var det ingen skillnad mellan prematur och fullgången grupp (p = .82). I mogen bröstmjölk var nivån av kompleasom högre och hade större variabilitet i prematurgruppen (p = .01). Efter Holder pastörisering ökade nivån av kompleasom i donerad bröstmjölk (p < .001).

Konklusion: Antisekretorisk faktor följer samma mönster som många andra immunologiska faktorer med höga nivåer i kolostrum. Efter prematur förlossning var nivåerna av antisekretorisk faktor i mogen bröstmjölk högre och mer varierande. Holder pastörisering degraderade inte antisekretorisk faktor, vilket tyder på bevarade anti-inflammatoriska egenskaper i donerad bröstmjölk.

Back translated by Lisen Forsberg

Keywords: Antisecretory Factor; breastfeeding; colostrum; human milk; lactation; milk bank; milk composition; neonatology; prematurity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures and conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. AG is a PhD student, KB is the main supervisor, SL and EJ are co-supervisors. EH and KB are principal investigators of the TELLUS trial in Sweden.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
AF-compleasome in Mothers’ Own Milk After Term or Preterm Birth.
Figure 2
Figure 2
AF-Compleasome Changes and Variations Over Time in Mothers’ Own Milk. Detection of AF-Compleasome in Longitudinal Human Milk Samples Taken From Mothers After Term or Preterm Birth Using Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Detection of AF-compleasome in donor human milk, before and after Holder pasteurization using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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