Bacterial translocation is a unique physiologic event, which is increased during pregnancy and lactation in rodents. Human breast milk cells contain a limited number of viable bacteria but a range of bacterial DNA signatures, as also found in maternal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Those peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed greater biodiversity than did peripheral blood mononuclear cells from control women. Taken together, our results suggest that intestinally derived bacterial components are transported to the lactating breast within mononuclear cells. We speculate that this programs the neonatal immune system to recognize specific bacterial molecular patterns and to respond appropriately to pathogens and commensal organisms.

Mucosal dendritic cells are at the heart of decision-making processes that dictate immune reactivity to intestinal microbes. They ensure tolerance to commensal bacteria and a vigorous immune response to pathogens. It has recently been demonstrated that the former involves a limited migration of bacterially loaded dendritic cells from the Peyer's patches to the mesenteric lymph nodes. During lactation, cells from gut-associated lymphoid tissue travel to the breast via the lymphatics and peripheral blood. Here, we show that human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and breast milk cells contain bacteria and their genetic material during lactation. Furthermore, we show an increased bacterial translocation from the mouse gut during pregnancy and lactation and the presence of bacterially loaded dendritic cells in lactating breast tissue. Our observations show bacterial translocation as a unique physiological event, which is increased during pregnancy and lactation. They suggest endogenous transport of intestinally derived bacterial components within dendritic cells destined for the lactating mammary gland. They also suggest neonatal immune imprinting by milk cells containing commensal-associated molecular patterns.

Summary Human breast milk is rich in nutrients, hormones, growth factors and immunoactive molecules, which influence the growth, development and immune status of the newborn infant. Although several of these factors are also present in bovine milk, the greater susceptibility of the formula-fed infant to infection and disease and the development of allergy is often attributed to the reduced level of protective factors in milk formulas. Nevertheless, modifying manufacturing processes may preserve the biological activity of some bioactive molecules in end products. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is one such molecule. TGF-β is a polypeptide, which has been described in both human and bovine milk. It is implicated in many processes, including epithelial cell growth and differentiation, development, carcinogenesis and immune regulation. The present article discusses the biological activity of TGF-β2 that has been preserved and activated in a cow's milk-based product. More specifically, it addresses possible mechanisms of action in the intestinal lumen and speculates on how milk products containing naturally occurring TGF-β2 could be exploited in functional foods for the infant or as therapies for specific intestinal diseases.

Receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL) are important members of the TNF receptor (TNFR) and TNF superfamilies, respectively. RANK is expressed on osteoclasts, T-lymphocytes, and dendritic cells, and its ligation with RANKL leads to cellular activation. However, another member of the TNFR family, osteoprotegerin (OPG), acts as a decoy receptor, binding to RANKL and preventing its interaction with RANK. Furthermore, OPG also binds TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), an important regulator of cell survival. OPG is therefore an important regulator of bone metabolism and immune responses. Although intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) express some members of the TNF/TNFR superfamilies, the roles of OPG and RANKL in the intestinal mucosa has not been investigated. Here, we report that various human IEC lines constitutively express OPG mRNA and protein as well as mRNA for RANKL. Furthermore, human colonic epithelium constitutively expressed OPG, and this expression was increased in inflamed tissue. All of the IEC lines tested released OPG into the culture supernatant under standard culture conditions. Whereas TNF-α increased OPG protein secretion by HT29 cells, the cytokines IL-1β and IFN-γ had little, if any, effect. Furthermore, the culture supernatant from untreated HT29 cells abrogated TRAIL-induced inhibition of Jurkat T-cell proliferation and inhibited osteoclast activity in an in vitro model of bone resorption. Taken together, our data indicate that OPG is constitutively produced by IEC, could be upregulated by TNF-α, and is biologically active. Thus IEC-derived OPG may represent an important mucosal immunoregulatory factor and may be involved in bone physiology.

Aging is associated with alterations of immune responses. Wolfberry, a popular Chinese functional ingredient, is prized for its anti-aging properties; however, little is known about the immunological effect of wolfberry intake. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of dietary intake of a milk-based formulation of wolfberry, named Lacto-Wolfberry, on in vivo and ex vivo parameters of adaptive immunity in young-adult and aged mice. Over 44 days, young-adult (2 months) and aged (21 months) C57BL/6J mice were fed ad libitum with a controlled diet and received drinking water supplemented or not with 0.5% (wt/vol) Lacto-Wolfberry. All mice were immunized on day 15 and challenged on day 22 with a T cell- dependent antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Lacto-Wolfberry supplementation significantly increased in vivo systemic immune markers that are known to decline with aging. Indeed, both antigen-(KLH) specific humoral response and cell-mediated immune responses in young-adult and aged mice were enhanced when compared to their respective controls. No significant effect of Lacto-Wolfberry supplementation was observed on ex vivo spleen cells proliferative response to mitogens and on splenocyte T cell subsets. In conclusion, dietary intake of Lacto-Wolfberry may favorably modulate the poor responsiveness to antigenic challenge observed with aging.