Cytokines and Chemokines in Breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2 Infected or COVID-19 Vaccinated Mothers

doi:10.3390/vaccines10122001

. 2022 Nov 24;10(12):2001.

doi: 10.3390/vaccines10122001.

Cytokines and Chemokines in Breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2 Infected or COVID-19 Vaccinated Mothers

Felicia Trofin^{1

2}, Olivia Simona Dorneanu^{1

2}, Daniela Constantinescu^{3

4}, Eduard Vasile Nastase^{2

5}, Cătălina Luncă^{1

6}, Luminița Smaranda Iancu^{1

7}, Ioana-Maria Andrioaie^{1

2}, Alexandru Duhaniuc^{1

2}, Corina Maria Cianga^{3

4}, Mariana Pavel-Tanasa^{3

4}, Dana-Teodora Anton-Păduraru^{6

8}, Petru Cianga^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Microbiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania.
² Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases "Sf. Parascheva", 700116 Iasi, Romania.
³ Immunology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania.
⁴ Immunology Laboratory, "Sf. Spiridon" Clinical Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania.
⁵ Infectious Diseases Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania.
⁶ "Sf. Maria" Children Emergency Hospital, 700309 Iasi, Romania.
⁷ National Institute of Public Health, Iasi Regional Center for Public Health, 700465 Iasi, Romania.
⁸ Mother and Child Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania.

PMID: 36560410
PMCID: PMC9784508
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10122001

Cytokines and Chemokines in Breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2 Infected or COVID-19 Vaccinated Mothers

Felicia Trofin et al. Vaccines (Basel). 2022.

. 2022 Nov 24;10(12):2001.

doi: 10.3390/vaccines10122001.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Microbiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania.
² Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases "Sf. Parascheva", 700116 Iasi, Romania.
³ Immunology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania.
⁴ Immunology Laboratory, "Sf. Spiridon" Clinical Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania.
⁵ Infectious Diseases Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania.
⁶ "Sf. Maria" Children Emergency Hospital, 700309 Iasi, Romania.
⁷ National Institute of Public Health, Iasi Regional Center for Public Health, 700465 Iasi, Romania.
⁸ Mother and Child Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania.

PMID: 36560410
PMCID: PMC9784508
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10122001

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 disease and anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were accompanied by alterations in several inflammatory markers. The aim of our research was to check to what extent such cytokines are transferred to infants via the breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2-infected or vaccinated mothers. Thus, we wanted to check if breastfeeding is safe during SARS-CoV-2 infection or after COVID-19 mRNA-vaccination.

Material and method: The Luminex Multiplexing Assay was used for quantifying 10 cytokine in the human breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2-infected or COVID-19-vaccinated mothers, compared with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG naïve mothers. Two milk samples were collected at 30 and 60 days either after the booster dose or afterthe onset of symptoms. A single milk sample was collected from the mothers within the control group.

Results: The cytokine concentrations were mostly found within the reference intervals for all mothers. The status of the vaccinated/infected mother, the age of the breastfed child, the parity of the mother and the maternal age were variation factors of the above-mentioned cytokine concentrations. The type of birth and the presence of IgG in the milk had no influence on these cytokine concentrations in milk. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were recorded between the cytokine concentrations of the two milk samples.

Conclusion: Our study provides data that support the safety of breastfeeding in the case of mild COVID-19 infection or after Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antibodies; breastmilk; cytokines; vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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References

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[1] Basheer M., Saad E., Shlezinger D., Assy N. Convalescent Plasma Reduces Mortality and Decreases Hospitalization Stay in Patients with Moderate COVID-19 Pneumonia. Metabolites. 2021;11:761. doi: 10.3390/metabo11110761. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Basheer M., Saad E., Shlezinger D., Assy N. Convalescent Plasma Reduces Mortality and Decreases Hospitalization Stay in Patients with Moderate COVID-19 Pneumonia. Metabolites. 2021;11:761. doi: 10.3390/metabo11110761. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Zhang Z.L., Hou Y.L., Li D.T., Li F.Z. Laboratory findings of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Investig. 2020;80:441–447. doi: 10.1080/00365513.2020.1768587. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Zhang Z.L., Hou Y.L., Li D.T., Li F.Z. Laboratory findings of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Investig. 2020;80:441–447. doi: 10.1080/00365513.2020.1768587. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Perreau M., Suffiotti M., Marques-Vidal P., Wiedemann A., Levy Y., Laouénan C., Ghosn J., Fenwick C., Comte D., Roger T., et al. The cytokines HGF and CXCL13 predict the severity and the mortality in COVID-19 patients. Nat. Commun. 2021;12:4888. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25191-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Perreau M., Suffiotti M., Marques-Vidal P., Wiedemann A., Levy Y., Laouénan C., Ghosn J., Fenwick C., Comte D., Roger T., et al. The cytokines HGF and CXCL13 predict the severity and the mortality in COVID-19 patients. Nat. Commun. 2021;12:4888. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25191-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Zhang Q., Bastard P., Liu Z., Le Pen J., Moncada-Velez M., Chen J., Ogishi M., Sabli I.K.D., Hodeib S., Korol C., et al. Inborn errors of type I IFN immunity in patients with life-threatening COVID-19. Science. 2020;370:eabd4570. doi: 10.1126/science.abd4570. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Zhang Q., Bastard P., Liu Z., Le Pen J., Moncada-Velez M., Chen J., Ogishi M., Sabli I.K.D., Hodeib S., Korol C., et al. Inborn errors of type I IFN immunity in patients with life-threatening COVID-19. Science. 2020;370:eabd4570. doi: 10.1126/science.abd4570. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Mustafa M.I., Abdelmoneim A.H., Mahmoud E.M., Makhawi A.M. Cytokine Storm in COVID-19 Patients, Its Impact on Organs and Potential Treatment by QTY Code-Designed Detergent-Free Chemokine Receptors. Mediat. Inflamm. 2020;2020:8198963. doi: 10.1155/2020/8198963. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Mustafa M.I., Abdelmoneim A.H., Mahmoud E.M., Makhawi A.M. Cytokine Storm in COVID-19 Patients, Its Impact on Organs and Potential Treatment by QTY Code-Designed Detergent-Free Chemokine Receptors. Mediat. Inflamm. 2020;2020:8198963. doi: 10.1155/2020/8198963. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Cytokines and Chemokines in Breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2 Infected or COVID-19 Vaccinated Mothers

Affiliations

Cytokines and Chemokines in Breastmilk of SARS-CoV-2 Infected or COVID-19 Vaccinated Mothers

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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Abstract

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