Antiviral oxysterols are present in human milk at diverse stages of lactation. Issue 193 (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Civra, Andrea; Leoni, Valerio; Caccia, Claudio; Sottemano, Stefano; Tonetto, Paola; Coscia, Alessandra; Peila, Chiara; Moro, Guido E.; Gaglioti, Pietro; Bertino, Enrico; Poli, Giuseppe; Lembo, David
• Is Part Of: Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology. Issue 193(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: 25HC 25-hydroxycholesterol -- 27HC 27-hydroxycholesterol -- BM breast milk -- 24SHC 24S-hydroxycholesterol -- 7KC 7-ketocholesterol -- 7βOHC 7β-hydroxycholesterol -- MFGM milk fat globules -- COP cholesterol oxidation products -- GC–MS gas chromatography-mass spectrometry -- DMEM Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium -- HRoV Human rotavirus -- HRhV Human rhinovirus -- FFU focus-forming units -- MOI multiplicity of infection -- SEM standard error of the mean -- EC50 antiviral effective concentration -- MAP medically assisted procreation -- C colostrum -- TM transitional milk -- MM mature milk -- CS cesarean section -- S spontaneous delivery; Oxysterols -- Maternal milk -- Colostrum -- Antiviral -- Rotavirus -- Rhinovirus; Steroid hormones -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Hormones -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Hormones stéroïdes -- Périodiques; Steroid hormones; Periodicals; 572.579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105424
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-0760

Abstract

Highlights: This study discloses new antiviral components of human milk. 24HC, 25HC, and 27HC are oxysterols present in human milk at any stage of lactation. 27HC content in colostrum is remarkably higher than that of 24HC and 25HC. 27HC concentrations in colostrum are potentially active against HRoV and HRhV. Abstract: Oxysterols are cholesterol oxidation derivatives. Those containing an additional hydroxyl group on the side chain of the cholesterol molecule result from a physiological enzymatic synthesis and include the majority of oxysterols present in the circulation. Among these, 25-hydroxycholesterol (25OHC) and 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHC) are characterized by a broad antiviral activity and are now considered involved in the innate immune response against viruses. Despite the emerging role of these sterols in the innate antiviral defences, no data are available on their presence in human breast milk (BM) to date. In this study, we investigated the content of oxysterols of enzymatic synthesis in BM of twelve donor mothers at different stages of lactation (i.e. in colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The side-chain oxysterols 25OHC, 27OHC, and 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24SOHC) were actually present in BM in all stages of lactation, but the concentration of 27OHC showed a remarkable peak in colostrum. Antiviral assays revealed that all the colostrum samples contained 27OHC concentrations that were active in vitro against two relevant pediatric viral pathogens: the human rotavirus and the human rhinovirus. Overall, this study discloses new antiviral components of BM and suggests a passive transfer of these protective factors to the infant via breastfeeding, especially in the first few days of lactation.