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Infant gut immunity: a preliminary study of IgA associations with breastfeeding

Part of: The Gut Microbiome: How it is Shaped by Early Life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2015

S. L. Bridgman ,
T. Konya ,
M. B. Azad ,
M. R. Sears ,
A. B. Becker ,
S. E. Turvey ,
P. J. Mandhane ,
P. Subbarao ,
J. A. Scott  and
C. J. Field
...Show all authors
S. L. Bridgman*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
T. Konya
Affiliation:
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
M. B. Azad
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
M. R. Sears
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, de Groote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
A. B. Becker
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
S. E. Turvey
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Child & Family Research Institute and BC Children’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
P. J. Mandhane
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
P. Subbarao
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
J. A. Scott
Affiliation:
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
C. J. Field
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
A. L. Kozyrskyj
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
CHILD Study Investigators
Affiliation:
Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study
*
*Address for correspondence: S. Bridgman, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, 3-529 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405–87th Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G IC9. (Email sarah.bridgman@ualberta.ca)
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Abstract

Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) plays a critical role in gut mucosal immune defense. Initially provided by breastmilk, IgA production by the infant gut is gradually stimulated by developing gut microbiota. This study reports associations between infant fecal IgA concentrations 4 months after birth, breastfeeding status and other pre/postnatal exposures in 47 infants in the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development cohort. Breastfed infants and first-born infants had higher median fecal IgA concentrations (23.11 v. 9.34 µg/g protein, P<0.01 and 22.19 v. 8.23 µg/g protein, P=0.04). IgA levels increased successively with exclusivity of breastfeeding (β-coefficient, 0.37, P<0.05). This statistical association was independent of maternal parity and household pets. In the absence of breastfeeding, female sex and pet exposure elevated fecal IgA to levels found in breastfed infants. In addition to breastfeeding, infant fecal IgA associations with pre/postnatal exposures may affect gut immunity and risk of allergic disease.

Keywords

breastfeedingimmunoglobulin A, parity, pets
Type
Brief Report
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 7 , Supplement 1: Themed Issue: The Gut Microbiome and Immunity: How it is Shaped by Early Life , February 2016 , pp. 68 - 72
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2016 

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