TABLE 5–10.
Possible Role of Soluble and Cellular Factors Identified in Human Milk
| Factor | Antimicrobial | Anti-inflammatory | Proinflammatory | Immunoregulatory | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immunoglobulin (sIgA) | +++ | ++ | — | ++ | ++ |
| Other immunoglobulins | +++ | + | ++ | + | — |
| T-lymphocyte products | +++ | ++ | ++ | — | — |
| PMNs, macrophages | ++ | — | + | ++ | — |
| Lactoferrin | +++ | +++ | — | — | — |
| α-Lactalbumin | — | ++ | — | — | — |
| Carbohydrates | |||||
| Oligosaccharides | ++ | ++ | — | — | ++ |
| Glycoconjugates | ++ | ++ | — | — | ++ |
| Glycolipids | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lipid and fat globules | ++ | — | — | — | — |
| Nucleotides | + | — | — | ++ | ++ |
| Defensins | + | — | — | + | — |
| Lysozymes | ± | — | — | — | — |
| Cytokines, chemokines | |||||
| TGF-β | — | ++ | ++ | ++ | — |
| IL-10 | — | ++ | ++ | ++ | — |
| IL-1β | — | ++ | ++ | ++ | — |
| TNF-α | — | — | — | ++ | — |
| IL-6 | — | — | — | ++ | — |
| IL-7 | — | — | — | (prothymus) | — |
| Others | — | — | — | ++ | — |
| Prostaglandins | — | ++ | — | — | — |
| Leptin* | — | — | — | ++ | ++ |
| Antiproteases | — | ++ | — | — | — |
| Other growth factors | — | ++ | — | ++ | — |
| sTLR-2, sCD14 | — | +++ | — | ++ | — |
+ to +++ = minimal to moderate effect; — = no known effect; ±= equivocal.
IL, interleukin; PMNs, polymorphonuclear neutrophils; sIgA, secretory IgA; TGF, transforming growth factor; TLR, toll-like receptor; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.
*
IL-1α, TNF-β, and IL-6 are associated with increased levels of leptin.