TGF-β2, EGF, and FGF21 Growth Factors Present in Breast Milk Promote Mesenteric Lymph Node Lymphocytes Maturation in Suckling Rats.

Paulina Torres-Castro,Margarida Castell,María Rodríguez-Lagunas,Mar Abril-Gil,Àngels Franch,Francisco Pérez-Cano

doi:10.3390/nu10091171

Paulina Torres-Castro, Margarida Castell + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10091171

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Abstract

Breast milk, due to its large number of nutrients and bioactive factors, contributes to optimal development and immune maturation in early life. In this study, we aimed to assess the influence of some growth factors present in breast milk, such as transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), on the immune response development. Newborn Wistar rats were supplemented daily with TGF-β2, EGF, or FGF21, throughout the suckling period. At day 14 and 21 of life, lymphocytes from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were isolated, immunophenotyped, and cultured to evaluate their ability to proliferate and release cytokines. The main results demonstrated that supplementation with TGF-β2, EGF, or FGF21 modified the lymphocyte composition in MLNs. At day 14, all supplementations were able to induce a lower percentage of natural killer (NK) cells with the immature phenotype (CD8+), and they reduced the CD8αα/CD8αβ ratio at day 21. Moreover, the cytokine pattern was modified by the three treatments, with a down regulation of interleukin (IL)-13 secretion. These results showed the contribution of these growth factors in the lymphocytes MLNs immune maturation during the neonatal period.

Highlights

At time of birth, the intestine is immature, anatomically, and metabolically and immunologically [1,2,3]
Body growth was assessed in the three groups receiving supplementation
We have not found any significant difference with respect to non-supplemented animals on mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) inflammatory cytokines, but the fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) supplementation decreased IL-13 at 21 days, as we found with the other

Summary

Introduction

The intestine is immature, anatomically, and metabolically and immunologically [1,2,3]. Intestinal development is a key process in early life because it includes important functions related to growth and survival. The intestinal maturation process can be conditioned through synergy of several factors, such as genetics, microbial colonization, and nutrition [1,2,3]. Breast milk is the gold standard to feed the newborn because it includes a rich number of components, which are essential for optimal growth and development [5]. It contains a high number of bioactive factors, which participate in the immune maturation process of infants [2,6]

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