scholarly journals The Suckling Rat as a Model for Immunonutrition Studies in Early Life

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J. Pérez-Cano ◽  
Àngels Franch ◽  
Cristina Castellote ◽  
Margarida Castell
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
System Development ◽  
Maternal Diet ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Immune Development ◽  
Immune System Development ◽  
Experimental Approaches ◽  
Immunomodulatory Properties

Diet plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal immune function. Research demonstrates the immunomodulatory properties and mechanisms of particular nutrients; however, these aspects are studied less in early life, when diet may exert an important role in the immune development of the neonate. Besides the limited data from epidemiological and human interventional trials in early life, animal models hold the key to increase the current knowledge about this interaction in this particular period. This paper reports the potential of the suckling rat as a model for immunonutrition studies in early life. In particular, it describes the main changes in the systemic and mucosal immune system development during rat suckling and allows some of these elements to be established as target biomarkers for studying the influence of particular nutrients. Different approaches to evaluate these immune effects, including the manipulation of the maternal diet during gestation and/or lactation or feeding the nutrient directly to the pups, are also described in detail. In summary, this paper provides investigators with useful tools for better designing experimental approaches focused on nutrition in early life for programming and immune development by using the suckling rat as a model.

scholarly journals Evidence for the essentiality of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid in the postnatal maternal and infant diet for the development of the infant’s immune system early in life

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 461-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Richard ◽  
Erin D. Lewis ◽  
Catherine J. Field
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Infant Formula ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
System Development ◽  
Maternal Diet ◽  
Atopic Disease ◽  
Full Term ◽  
Term Infants ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies ◽  
Immune System Development

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), especially the balance between arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids are known to have important immunomodulatory roles during the postnatal period when the immune system is rapidly developing. AA and DHA are required in infant formula in many countries but are optional in North America. The rationale for adding these LCPUFA to full-term formula is based on their presence in breast milk and randomized controlled studies that suggest improved cognitive function in preterm infants, but results are more variable in full-term infants. Recently, the European Food Safety Authority has proposed, based on a lack of functional evidence, that AA is not required in infant formula for full-term infants during the first year of life but DHA should remain mandatory. The purpose of this review is to review the evidence from epidemiological and intervention studies regarding the essentiality of AA and DHA in the postnatal infant and maternal diet (breast-feeding) for the immune system development early in life. Although studies support the essentiality of DHA for the immune system development, more research is needed to rule out the essentiality of AA. Nevertheless, intervention studies have demonstrated improvement in many markers of immune function in infants fed formula supplemented with AA and DHA compared with unsupplemented formula, which appears to consistently result in beneficial health outcomes including reduction in the risk of developing allergic and atopic disease early in life.

scholarly journals Early-Life Intervention Using Fecal Microbiota Combined with Probiotics Promotes Gut Microbiota Maturation, Regulates Immune System Development, and Alleviates Weaning Stress in Piglets

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quanhang Xiang ◽  
Xiaoyu Wu ◽  
Ye Pan ◽  
Liu Wang ◽  
Chenbin Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Early Life ◽  
System Development ◽  
Fecal Microbiota ◽  
Microbial Colonization ◽  
Life Period ◽  
Weaning Stress ◽  
Immune System Development

Previous studies have suggested that immune system development and weaning stress are closely related to the maturation of gut microbiota. The early-life period is a “window of opportunity” for microbial colonization, which potentially has a critical impact on the development of the immune system. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and probiotics are often used to regulate gut microbial colonization. This study aims to test whether early intervention with FMT using fecal microbiota from gestation sows combined with Clostridium butyricum and Saccharomyces boulardii (FMT-CS) administration could promote the maturation of gut microbiota and development of immune system in piglets. Piglets were assigned to control (n = 84) and FMT-CS treatment (n = 106), which were treated with placebo and bacterial suspension during the first three days after birth, respectively. By 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we found that FMT-CS increased the α-diversity and reduced the unweighted UniFrac distances of the OTU community. Besides, FMT-CS increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, while decreasing that of opportunistic pathogens. FMT-CS also enhanced the relative abundance of genes related to cofactors and vitamin, energy, and amino acid metabolisms during the early-life period. ELISA analysis revealed that FMT-CS gave rise to the plasma concentrations of IL-23, IL-17, and IL-22, as well as the plasma levels of anti-M.hyo and anti-PCV2 antibodies. Furthermore, the FMT-CS-treated piglets showed decreases in inflammation levels and oxidative stress injury, and improvement of intestinal barrier function after weaning as well. Taken together, our results suggest that early-life intervention with FMT-CS could promote the development of innate and adaptive immune system and vaccine efficacy, and subsequently alleviate weaning stress through promoting the maturation of gut microbiota in piglets.

scholarly journals Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid Supplementation in the Suckling and the Post-weaning Diet Influences the Immune System Development of T Helper Type-2 Bias Brown Norway Rat Offspring

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhruvesh Patel ◽  
Marnie Newell ◽  
Susan Goruk ◽  
Caroline Richard ◽  
Catherine J. Field
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
System Development ◽  
Maternal Diet ◽  
Brown Norway ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Immune System Development ◽  
Brown Norway Rat

Background: Dietary long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) such as arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) play an important role in the development of the infant immune system. The role of LCPUFA in the T helper type 2 (Th2) biased immune system is unknown. We aimed to understand the effect of feeding LCPUFA during suckling and post-weaning on immune system development in Th2 bias Brown Norway rat offspring.Methods: Brown Norway dams were randomly assigned to nutritionally adequate maternal diet throughout the suckling period (0–3 weeks), namely, control diet (0% ARA, 0% DHA; n= 8) or ARA + DHA (0.45% ARA, 0.8% DHA; n = 10). At 3 weeks, offspring from each maternal diet group were randomized to either a control (0% ARA, 0% DHA; n = 19) or ARA+DHA post-weaning (0.5% ARA, 0.5% DHA; n = 18) diet. At 8 weeks, offspring were killed, and tissues were collected for immune cell function and fatty acid composition analyses.Results: ARA + DHA maternal diet resulted in higher (p < 0.05) DHA composition in breast milk (4×) without changing ARA levels. This resulted in more mature adaptive immune cells in spleen [T regulatory (Treg) cells and B cells], mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN, lower CD45RA+), and Peyer's patches (PP; higher IgG+, B cells) in the ARA+DHA group offspring at 8 weeks. ARA+DHA post-weaning diet (3–8 weeks) resulted in 2 × higher DHA in splenocyte phospholipids compared to control. This also resulted in higher Th1 cytokines, ~50% higher TNF-α and IFNγ, by PMAi stimulated splenocytes ex vivo, with no differences in Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10) compared to controls.Conclusion: Feeding dams a diet higher in DHA during the suckling period resulted in adaptive immune cell maturation in offspring at 8 weeks. Providing ARA and DHA during the post-weaning period in a Th2 biased Brown Norway offspring model may support Th1 biased immune response development, which could be associated with a lower risk of developing atopic diseases.

Defining critical windows in the development of the human immune system

2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 499-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
L J West
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
System Development ◽  
Environmental Toxins ◽  
Human Immune System ◽  
Immune Development ◽  
Organ Systems ◽  
Immune System Development ◽  
Human Immune

Identifying critical windows in immune system development is crucial for determination of either safety or vulnerability to exposure to specific agents during rapidly changing phases of ontogeny. These phases in the human range from postconception early gestation through adolescence. A detailed understanding of these windows will facilitate avoidance of environmental toxins as well as allow improved planning for unavoidable exposures. Critical windows of immune development will be influenced by concomitant development, maturation and growth of other organ systems, thus the influence of potentially toxic exposures must be determined within a co-ordinated multisystem and multidisciplinary approach.

scholarly journals Osteopontin Levels in Human Milk Are Related to Maternal Nutrition and Infant Health and Growth

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2670
Author(s):  
Aysegül Aksan ◽  
Izzet Erdal ◽  
Siddika Songül Yalcin ◽  
Jürgen Stein ◽  
Gülhan Samur
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Breast Milk ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
System Development ◽  
Maternal Factors ◽  
Immune System Development ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pregnancy Weight

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is a glycosylated phosphoprotein found in human tissues and body fluids. OPN in breast milk is thought to play a major role in growth and immune system development in early infancy. Here, we investigated maternal factors that may affect concentrations of OPN in breast milk, and the possible associated consequences for the health of neonates. Methods: General characteristics, health status, dietary patterns, and anthropometric measurements of 85 mothers and their babies were recorded antenatally and during postnatal follow-up. Results: The mean concentration of OPN in breast milk was 137.1 ± 56.8 mg/L. Maternal factors including smoking, BMI, birth route, pregnancy weight gain, and energy intake during lactation were associated with OPN levels (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were determined between body weight, length, and head circumference, respectively, and OPN levels after one (r = 0.442, p = < 0.001; r = −0.284, p = < 0.001; r = −0.392, p = < 0.001) and three months (r = 0.501, p = < 0.001; r = −0.450, p = < 0.001; r = −0.498, p = < 0.001) of lactation. A negative relation between fever-related infant hospitalizations from 0–3 months and breast milk OPN levels (r = −0.599, p < 0.001) was identified. Conclusions: OPN concentrations in breast milk differ depending on maternal factors, and these differences can affect the growth and immune system functions of infants. OPN supplementation in infant formula feed may have benefits and should be further investigated.

scholarly journals 398 Towards new feeding approaches for optimizing nutritional status, immunity and host-microbiota interactions in neonatal and weaned piglets

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 181-181
Author(s):  
Martin Lessard ◽  
Mylène Blais ◽  
Guylaine Talbot ◽  
J Jacques Matte ◽  
Ann Letellier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
System Development ◽  
Feed Additives ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Immune System Development

Abstract Lactation, feeding conditions, microbial interventions and piglet growth in the first few weeks of life have important impact on the intestinal microbiota establishment and immune system development of piglets. Indeed, colostrum and milk contain various bioactive components such as immune factors, antimicrobial peptides and oligosaccharides that contribute to maintain intestinal homeostasis and regulate interactions between microbiota and host immune system. Recent results revealed that low birth weight piglet (LBWP) with poor weight gain during the first two weeks of life develop different intestinal microbiota and immune response profiles compared to high BWP (HBWP) littermates. Consequently, piglets within litters may have different resilience to infections after weaning and benefit from feed additives in a specific manner. A study has been performed to evaluate the potential of bovine colostrum extract (BC) as replacement to plasma proteins for improving gut health and resilience to Salmonella infection in piglets. Results revealed that in weaned piglets fed BC, intestinal microbiota was differently modulated and bacterial dysbiosis induced by Salmonella was restored faster. Moreover, expression of genes involved in innate immunity such as β-defensin-2 and glutathione peroxidase-2 was respectively down- and up-regulated in BC fed piglets. A combination of dietary supplementation with BC, cupper and vitamins A and D has also been tested in LBWP and HBWP, and there is clear evidence that BC in combination with other feed additives promote growth and gut health in both LBWP and HBWP. The porcine intestinal epithelial cell line IPEC-J2 was used to better understand the functional properties of BC. Results indicated that BC improves wound healing, enhances barrier function and modulates the expression of several genes involved in innate immune response. Finally, as microbial intervention, the potential of fecal transplantation to modulate intestinal microbiota and immune system development of piglets is under investigation and will be discussed.

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