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Breastmilk-Saliva Interactions Boost Innate Immunity by Regulating the Oral Microbiome in Early Infancy1.27 MB
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Breastmilk-Saliva Interactions Boost Innate Immunity by Regulating the Oral Microbiome in Early Infancy
PloS one, Vol.10(9), e0135047
2015
PMCID: PMC4556682
PMID: 26325665
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Xanthine oxidase (XO) is distributed in mammals largely in the liver and small intestine, but also is highly active in milk where it generates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Adult human saliva is low in hypoxanthine and xanthine, the substrates of XO, and high in the lactoperoxidase substrate thiocyanate, but saliva of neonates has not been examined.
Median concentrations of hypoxanthine and xanthine in neonatal saliva (27 and 19 μM respectively) were ten-fold higher than in adult saliva (2.1 and 1.7 μM). Fresh breastmilk contained 27.3 ± 12.2 μM H2O2 but mixing baby saliva with breastmilk additionally generated >40 μM H2O2, sufficient to inhibit growth of the opportunistic pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. Oral peroxidase activity in neonatal saliva was variable but low (median 7 U/L, range 2-449) compared to adults (620 U/L, 48-1348), while peroxidase substrate thiocyanate in neonatal saliva was surprisingly high. Baby but not adult saliva also contained nucleosides and nucleobases that encouraged growth of the commensal bacteria Lactobacillus, but inhibited opportunistic pathogens; these nucleosides/bases may also promote growth of immature gut cells. Transition from neonatal to adult saliva pattern occurred during the weaning period. A survey of saliva from domesticated mammals revealed wide variation in nucleoside/base patterns.
During breast-feeding, baby saliva reacts with breastmilk to produce reactive oxygen species, while simultaneously providing growth-promoting nucleotide precursors. Milk thus plays more than a simply nutritional role in mammals, interacting with infant saliva to produce a potent combination of stimulatory and inhibitory metabolites that regulate early oral-and hence gut-microbiota. Consequently, milk-saliva mixing appears to represent unique biochemical synergism which boosts early innate immunity.
Details
- Title
- Breastmilk-Saliva Interactions Boost Innate Immunity by Regulating the Oral Microbiome in Early Infancy
- Creators
- Saad S Al-Shehri (Corresponding Author) - University of QueenslandChristine L Knox - Queensland University of TechnologyHelen G Liley - Mater Health ServicesDavid M Cowley - Mater Health ServicesJohn R Wright - University of QueenslandMichael G Henman - Mater Health ServicesAmitha K Hewavitharana - University of QueenslandBruce G Charles - University of QueenslandPaul N Shaw - University of QueenslandEmma L Sweeney - Queensland University of TechnologyJohn A Duley - University of Queensland
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.10(9), e0135047
- Publisher
- United States
- Identifiers
- 991012893698402368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Southern Cross Plant Science; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article