Stem cells of the maternal milk allow a better development of lactating newborns

Gavino Faa; Giuseppina Pichiri; Monica Piras; Pierpaolo Coni; Vassilios Fanos

doi:10.4081/hls.2024.12546

Authors

Gavino Faa
gavinofaa@gmail.com
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Italy; Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0189-8612
Giuseppina Pichiri Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Italy.
Monica Piras Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Italy.
Pierpaolo Coni Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Italy.
Vassilios Fanos Department of Surgical Sciences, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Cagliari, Italy.

Recent findings of stem/progenitor cells in maternal milk and their ability to cross the intestinal barrier of lactating newborns and integrate into neonatal organs to promote optimal child development present a new challenge in perinatal medicine. These findings emphasize the need for all mothers to breastfeed their babies for a long time. According to recent research, breastfeeding protects the lactating newborn from multiple infectious agents that can cause severe and fatal early infancy diseases. The second benefit is that maternal stem cells accelerate the development of several organs, including the brain, protecting lactating infants from severe childhood and adult diseases. The success and diffusion of exclusive breastfeeding, especially in low-resource settings, depends on mothers' knowledge of the many benefits for their child, including recent discoveries on breastfeeding's powerful benefits. Every mother may need simple booklets to learn about the unique benefits of maternal breastfeeding, including the nutrients and multiple cell types that protect the newborn from infections and accelerate neonatal organ development. Social media should also be encouraged to spread news about breastfeeding and maternal stem cells' impact on lactating infants' health. Health belief model interventions may boost breastfeeding. In conclusion, the discovery of massive amounts of cells in maternal milk and the identification of stem/progenitors with previously unknown potential in newborn development after birth should be considered a new valuable tool for exclusive breastfeeding advocates. Data here suggests that every action to spread this message and educate mothers and families about breastfeeding's irreplaceable role is mandatory.

Picciano MF. Nutrient composition of human milk. Pediatr Clin North Am 2001;48:53-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-3955(05)70285-6

Katmavanti S, Paramita F, Kurniawan A, et al. The effects of exclusive breastfeeding booklets on mothers’ knowledge in providing exclusive breastfeeding in Mataram City, Indonesia. Healthc Low-resour Sett 2023;11:11211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11211

Samuel TM, Zhou Q, Giuffrida F, et al. Nutritional and non-nutritional composition of human milk is modulated by maternal, infant, and methodological factors. Front Nutr 2020;7:576133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.576133

Bardanzellu F, Peroni DG, Fanos V. Human breast milk: bioactive components, from stem cells to health outcomes. Current Nutrition Reports 2020;9:1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-020-00303-7

Fan Y, Chong YS, Choolani MA, et al. Unravelling the mystery of stem/progenitor cells in human breast milk. PlosOne 2010;5:e14421. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0014421

Patki S, Kadam S, Chandra V, Bhonde R. Human breast milk is a rich source of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells. Human Cell 2010;23:35-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-0774.2010.00083.x

Patki S et al. Cytology of the human milk in the first postpartum week – a clinical prospective. J Cytol Histol 2014;S4:2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7099.S4009

Sani M, Hosseini SM. Origins of the breast milk-derived cells: an endeavor to find the cell source. Cell Biol Int 2015;39:611.618.b DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbin.10432

Coni P, Piras M, Piludu M, et al. Exploring cell surface markers and cell-cell interactions of human breast milk stem cells. J Public Health Res 2023;12:22799036221150332. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/22799036221150332

Piras M, Coni P, Piludu M, et al. Human breast milk cells are positive for the pioneer transcription factor ISL1. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2023;27:8842-9.

Faa G, Fanos V, Puddu M, et al. Breast milk stem cells: four questions looking for an answer. JPNIM 2016;5:050203.

Hassiotou F. Cells in human milk: state of the science. J Hum Lact 2013;29:171-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334413477242

Hassiotou F, Geddes DT. Immune cell-mediated protection of the mammary gland aid the infant during breastfeeding. Adv Nutr 2015;6:267-275. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/an.114.007377

Kaanta AS et al. Evidence for a multipotent mammary progenitor with pregnancy-specific activity. Breast Cancer Res 2013;15:R65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr3459

Malcom G, Ellwood D, Devonald K, Beilby R, Henderson-Smart D. Absent or reversed and diastolic flow velocity in the umbilical artery and necrotizing enterocolitis. Arch Dis Childs 1991;66:805-807. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.66.7_Spec_No.805

Hassiotou F. Differentiation of breast milk stem cells to neural stem cells and neurons. Faseb Journal 2014;28:216.4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/807896

Faa G, Gerosa C, Fanni D, et al. Morphogenesis and molecular mechanisms involved in human kidney development. Cell Physiol 2011;227:1257-68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.22985

Faa G, Fanni D, Gerosa C, et al. Kidney development and susceptibility to develop kidney disease in adulthood. Jpn J Med 2018;1:217-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31488/jjm.1000119

Faa G, Marcialis MA, Ravarino A, et al. Fetal programming of the human brain: is there a link with insurgence of neurodegenerative disorders in adulthood? Curr Med Chem 2014;21:3854-76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867321666140601163658

Faa G, Manchia M, Pintus R, et al. Fetal programming of neuropsychiatric disorders. Birth Defects Res (Part C) 2016;108:207-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bdrc.21139

Piras M, Fanos V, Ravarino A, et al. Fetal programming of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases: the role of epigenetic factors. J Pediatr Neonatal Individ Med 2014;3:e030270.

Gerosa C, Faa G, Fanni D, et al. Fetal programming of atherosclerosis: may the Barker hypothesis explain the susceptibility of a subset of patients to develop stroke or cardiac infarct? Eur Rev Med Pharmacol 2021;25:6633-41.

Yajnik CS. Fetal programming of diabetes. Still so much to learn. Diabetes Care 2010;33:1146-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc10-0407

Gerosa C, Faa G, Fanni D, et al. Fetal programming of COVID-19: may the Barker hypothesis explain the susceptibility of a subset of young adults to develop a severe disease? Eur Rev Med Pharmacol 2021;25:5876-84.

Marciniak A, Patro-Malysza J, Kimber-Trojnar Z, et al. Fetal programming of the metabolic syndrome. Taiwanese J Obstetr Gynecol 2007;56:133-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjog.2017.01.001

Coghe F, Fanni D, Gerosa C, et al. The role of fetal programming in human carcinogenesis. May the Barker hypothesis explain interindividual variability in susceptibility to cancer insurgence and progression? Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2022;26:3585-3592.

Kapti RE, Arief YS, Azizah N. Mother’s knowledge as a dominant factor for the success of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia. Healthc Low-resour Sett 2023;11:11209. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11209

Deswani D, Rahmawati DE, Mulyanti Y, et al. Social media utilization and knowledge levels in exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Indonesia. Healthc Low-resour Sett 2023;11:11765. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11765

Safaah N, Yunitasari E, Prasetyo B, et al Enhancing maternal role achievement and breastfeeding success through health belief model intervention. Healthc Low-resour Sett 2024; doi.org/10.4081/hls.2024.11941. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2024.11941

Kamsatun K. The effect of family empowerment through education and mentoring on increasing knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding. Healthcare in Low-resource Settings 2023;11:11793. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11793

Faa, G., Pichiri, G., Piras, M., Coni, P., & Fanos, V. (2024). Stem cells of the maternal milk allow a better development of lactating newborns. Healthcare in Low-Resource Settings. https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2024.12546