Temporal Changes of Protein Composition in Breast Milk of Chinese Urban Mothers and Impact of Caesarean Section Delivery.

Human breast milk (BM) protein composition may be impacted by lactation stage or factors related to geographical location. The present study aimed at assessing the temporal changes of BM major proteins over lactation stages and the impact of mode of delivery on immune factors, in a large cohort of urban mothers in China. 450 BM samples, collected in three Chinese cities, covering 8 months of lactation were analyzed for α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, serum albumin, total caseins, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM and IgG) and transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 and β2 content by microfluidic chip- or ELISA-based quantitative methods.

Secretory IgA in complex with Lactobacillus rhamnosus potentiates mucosal dendritic cell-mediated Treg cell differentiation via TLR regulatory proteins, RALDH2 and secretion of IL-10 and TGF-β.

The importance of secretory IgA in controlling the microbiota is well known, yet how the antibody affects the perception of the commensals by the local immune system is still poorly defined. We have previously shown that the transport of secretory IgA in complex with bacteria across intestinal microfold cells results in an association with dendritic cells in Peyer's patches. However, the consequences of such an interaction on dendritic cell conditioning have not been elucidated.

Role of secretory IgA in the mucosal sensing of commensal bacteria.

While the gut epithelium represents the largest mucosal tissue, the mechanisms underlying the interaction between intestinal bacteria and the host epithelium lead to multiple outcomes that remain poorly understood at the molecular level. Deciphering such events may provide valuable information as to the mode of action of commensal and probiotic microorganisms in the gastrointestinal environment. Potential roles of such microorganisms along the privileged target represented by the intestinal immune system include maturation processes prior, during and after weaning, and the reduction of inflammatory reactions in pathogenic conditions.

The role of secretory immunoglobulin A in the natural sensing of commensal bacteria by mouse Peyer's patch dendritic cells.

The mammalian gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors a diverse population of commensal species collectively known as the microbiota, which interact continuously with the host. From very early in life, secretory IgA (SIgA) is found in association with intestinal bacteria. It is considered that this helps to ensure self-limiting growth of the microbiota and hence participates in symbiosis.

Influence of gut microbiota on mouse B2 B cell ontogeny and function.

A complex interplay between the microbiota and the host immune system is evidenced to shape the immune system throughout life, but little is known about the microbial effect on key players of the adaptive immune system, the B2 B cells. In the presented study, we have evaluated the effect of commensal bacteria on B cell ontogeny and function, with the focus on B2 B cells of spleen and Peyer's patches. We have compared germ-free mice to mice that are exposed to a normal complex bacterial community from the day of birth and combined classical immunological assessment with advanced genome-wide expression profiling.

Bifidobacterium lactis attenuates onset of inflammation in a murine model of colitis.

Aim: To assess the anti-inflammatory effect of the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) in an adoptive transfer model of colitis.

Methods: Donor and recipient mice received either B.

Time-resolved quantitative proteome analysis of in vivo intestinal development.

Postnatal intestinal development is a very dynamic process characterized by substantial morphological changes that coincide with functional adaption to the nutritional change from a diet rich in fat (milk) to a diet rich in carbohydrates on from weaning. Time-resolved studies of intestinal development have so far been limited to investigation at the transcription level or to single or few proteins at a time. In the present study, we elucidate proteomic changes of primary intestinal epithelial cells from jejunum during early suckling (1-7 days of age), middle suckling (7-14 days), and weaning period (14-35 days) in mice, using a label-free proteomics approach.

Potentiation of polarized intestinal Caco-2 cell responsiveness to probiotics complexed with secretory IgA.

The precise mechanisms underlying the interaction between intestinal bacteria and the host epithelium lead to multiple consequences that remain poorly understood at the molecular level. Deciphering such events can provide valuable information as to the mode of action of commensal and probiotic microorganisms in the gastrointestinal environment. Potential roles of such microorganisms along the privileged target represented by the mucosal immune system include maturation prior, during and after weaning, and the reduction of inflammatory reactions in pathogenic conditions.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor elicits bone marrow-derived cells that promote efficient colonic mucosal healing.

Background: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) therapy is effective in treating some Crohn's disease (CD) patients and protects mice from colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) administration. However, its mechanisms of action remain elusive. We hypothesized that GM-CSF affects intestinal mucosal repair.

Interleukin-17 is a critical mediator of vaccine-induced reduction of Helicobacter infection in the mouse model.

Background & Aims: Despite the proven ability of immunization to reduce Helicobacter infection in mouse models, the precise mechanism of protection has remained elusive. This study explores the possibility that interleukin (IL)-17 plays a role in the reduction of Helicobacter infection following vaccination of wild-type animals or in spontaneous reduction of bacterial infection in IL-10-deficient mice.

Methods: In mice, reducing Helicobacter infection, the levels and source of IL-17 were determined and the role of IL-17 in reduction of Helicobacter infection was probed by neutralizing antibodies.

[Chronic cough: practical aspects].

A cough is defined as chronic, if it exceeds 8 weeks in length. Post-nasal drip (PND), bronchial asthma and gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD) must be systematically investigated, as these account for 90 percent of chronic cough cases. In addition to medical history and examination which should exclude either a postinfectious cough or coughing related to ACE inhibitor medication, a new evaluation model suggests chest X ray and spirometry as the initial step.

Ascites and highly elevated CA-125 levels in a case of peritoneal tuberculosis.

Peritoneal tuberculosis (PT) is uncommon in industrialized countries. We report the case of a 35-y-old female with a 1-y history of abdominal discomfort, ascites, systemic symptoms, and highly elevated CA-125 suggesting malignancy, in whom the diagnosis of PT was considered. Both clinical symptoms and CA-125 levels regressed under tuberculostatic treatment.

[Hemoptysis: methods of localization].

Depending on the amount of bleeding, chest radiograph localises the origin of an hemoptysis in 20 to 50% of cases. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest is the most accurate method used to localise and identify the source of bleeding. In case of normal imaging, bronchoscopy localises the bleeding source in 40% of cases.

Secretory IgA possesses intrinsic modulatory properties stimulating mucosal and systemic immune responses.

Secretory IgA (SIgA) is essential in protecting mucosal surfaces by ensuring immune exclusion. In addition, SIgA binds selectively to M cells in Peyer's patches (PP), resulting in transport across the epithelium and targeting of dendritic cells (DC) in the dome region. The immunological consequences of such an interaction are unknown.

Simplified procedure to recover recombinant antigenized secretory IgA to be used as a vaccine vector.

Induced protection mechanisms at mucosal surfaces involve secretory IgA (SIgA), a complex structure made of polymeric-dimeric IgA (IgA(p/d)) antibody associated with secretory component (SC). SIgA can adhere to M cells of the intestinal and nasal epithelia, are transported across these latter, and are thus available to the immune cells underlying the epithelia. This property makes SIgA suitable as potential mucosal vaccine delivery vector.