Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T13:31:00.829Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Early nutrition and the development of immune function in the neonate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

D. Kelly  and
A. G. P. Coutts
D. Kelly*
Affiliation:
Department of Intestinal Cell Biology and Immunology, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK
A. G. P. Coutts
Affiliation:
Department of Intestinal Cell Biology and Immunology, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Denise Kelly, fax +44 (0)1224 716687, email dk@rri.sari.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The present review will concentrate on the development of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue and the role of early nutrition in promoting immune function. The intestine is the largest immune organ in the body, and as such is the location for the majority of lymphocytes and other immune effector cells. The intestine is exposed to vast quantities of dietary and microbial antigens, and is the most common portal of entry for pathogens, some of which are potentially lethal. The development of normal immune function of the intestine is therefore vital for survival, and is dependent on appropriate antigen exposure and processing, and also an intact intestinal barrier. In early life innate mechanisms of defence are probably more important than active or adaptive mechanisms in responding to an infectious challenge, since the healthy neonate is immunologically naïve (has not seen antigen) and has not acquired immunological memory. During this period maternal colostrum and milk can significantly augment resistance to enteric infections. The mechanisms of enhancing disease resistance are thought to be passive, involving a direct supply of anti-microbial factors, and active, by promoting the development of specific immune function. A tolerance response to dietary and non-invasive antigens is generally induced in the gut. However, it must also be able to mount an adequate immune response to ensure clearance of foreign antigens. It is now recognized that regulation of tolerance and active immune responses is critical to health, and failure to regulate these responses can lead to recurrent infections, inflammatory diseases and allergies. The education of the immune system in early life is thought to be critical in minimizing the occurrence of these immune-based disorders. During this phase of development maternal milk provides signals to the immune system that generate appropriate response and memory. One factor that has been proposed to contribute to the increase in the incidence of immune-based disorders, e.g. atopic diseases in Western countries, is thought to be the increased prevalence of formula-feeding.

Keywords

IntestineImmunityNeonateColostrum
Type
Plenary Lecture
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 59 , Issue 2 , May 2000 , pp. 177 - 185
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2000

References

Bertotto, A, Castellucci, G, Radicioni, M, Bartolucci, M & Vaccaro, R (1996) CD40 ligand expression on the surface of colostral T cells. Archives of Diseases in Childhood 74, F135-F136.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bertotto, A, Gerli, R, Fabietti, G, Arcangeli, C, Scalise, F & Vaccaro, R (1990) Human breast milk T cells display the phenotype and functional characteristics of memory T cells. European Journal of Immunology 20, 1877–1880.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bessler, H, Straussberg, R, Hart, J, Notti, I & Sirota, I (1996) Human colostrum stimulates cytokine production. Biology of the Neonate 69, 376–382.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bona, C & Bot, A (1997) Neonatal immunoresponsiveness. The Immunologist 5, 5–9.Google Scholar
Brandtzaeg, P (1996) Development of the mucosal immune system in humans Recent Developments in Infant Nutrition 349–376 [Bindels, JG, Goedhart, AC and Visser, HKA, editors]. London: Kluwer Academic Publishers.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brandtzaeg, P (1998) Development and basic machanisms of human gut immunity. Nutrition Reviews 56, S5-S18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brightbill, HD, Libraty, DH, Krutzik, SR, Yang, RB, Belisle, JT, Bleharski, JR, Maitland, M, Norhard, MV, Plevy, SE, Smale, ST, Brennan, PJ, Bloom, BR, Godowski, PJ & Modlin, RL (1999) Host defence mechanisms triggered by microbial lipoproteins through toll-like receptors. Science 285, 732–735.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burrin, DG, Shulman, RJ, Reeds, PJ, Davis, TA & Gravitt, KR (1992) Porcine colostrum and milk stimulate visceral organ and skeletal muscle protein synthesis in neonatal pigs. Journal of Nutrition 122, 1205–1213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, NA, Kim, HS, Blumberg, RS & Mayer, L (1999) The nonclassical class I molecule CD1d associates with the novel CD8 ligand gp180 on intestinal epithelial cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry 274, 26259–26265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chandra, RK & Hamed, A (1991) Cumulative incidence of atopic disorders in high risk infants fed whey hydrolysate, soy and conventional cow milk formulas. Annals of Allergy 67, 129–132.Google ScholarPubMed
Delespesse, G, Yang, LP, Ohshima, Y, Demeure, C, Shu, U, Byun, DG & Sarfati, M (1998) Maturation of human neonatal CD4+ T lymphocytes into TH1/TH2 effectors. Vaccine 16, 1415–1419.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dyrynda, E & Ratcliffe, N (1998)Invertebrate immune response. The Biochemist February issue, 6–11.Google Scholar
Fairhurst, RM, Wang, C, Sieling, PA, Modlin, RL & Braun, J (1998) CD1-restricted T cells and resistance to polysaccharide-encapsulated bacteria. Immunology Today 19, 257–259.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garofalo, R, Chheda, S, Mei, F, Palkowetz, KH, Rudloff, HE, Schmalstieg, FC, Rassin, DK & Goldman, AS (1995) Interleukin 10 in human milk. Pediatric Research 37, 444–449.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Golding, J, Emmett, PM & Rogers, IS (1997) Gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and breast feeding. Early Human Development 49, S83-S103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goldman, AS & Goldblum, RM (1997) Transfer of maternal leukocytes to the infant by human milk. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 222, 205–213.Google Scholar
Hansen, S & Holmskov, U (1998) Structural aspects of collectins and receptors for collectins. Immunobiology 199, 165–189.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hawkes, JS, Neumann, MA & Gibson, RA (1999) The effect of breast feeding on lymphocyte subpopulations in healthy term infants at 6 months of age. Pediatric Research 45, 648–651.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Helgeland, L, Vaage, JT & Rolstad, B (1996) Microbial colonisation influences composition and T cell receptor Vβ repertoire of intraepithelial lymphocytes in rat intestine. Immunology 89, 494–501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hodgins, DC, Kang, SY, deArriba, L, Parreno, V, Ward, LA, Yuan, L, To, T & Saif, LJ (1999) Effects of maternal antibodies on protection and development of antibody responses to human rotavirus in gnotobiotic pigs. Journal of Virology 73, 186–197.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Husband, AJ & Gleeson, M (1996) Ontogeny of mucosal immunity. Brain, Behaviour and Immunity 10, 188–204.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Insoft, RM, Sanderson, IR & Walker, W (1996) Development of immune function in the intestine and its role in neonatal disease. Pediatric Gastroenterology 43, 551–571.Google Scholar
Jeyasingham, MD, Butty, P, King, TP, Begbie, R & Kelly, D (1999) Escherichia coli K88 receptor expression in the intestine of disease-susceptible pigs. Veterinary Microbiology 68, 219–234.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jullien, D, Stenger, S, Ernst, WA & Modlin, RL (1997) CD1 presentation of microbial non-peptide antigens to T cells. Journal of Clinical Investigation 99, 2071–2074.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
June, CH, Bluestone, JA, Nadler, LM & Thompson, CB (1994) The B7 and CD28 receptor families. Immunology Today 15, 321–331.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kelly, D & King, TP (1991) The influence of lactation products on the temporal expression of histo-blood group antigens in the intestines of suckling pigs: lectin histochemistry and immunohistochemical analysis. Histochemical Journal 23, 55–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kelly, D, King, TP, McFadyen, M & Coutts, AGP (1993) Effect of pre-closure colostrum intake on the development of the intestinal epithelium of artificially-reared piglets. Biology of the Neonate 64, 235–244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelly, D, King, TP, McFadyen, M & Travis, AJ (1991) Effect of lactation on the decline of brush border lactase in neonatal pigs. Gut 32, 386–392.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
King, TP & Kelly, D (1991) Ontogenic expression of histo-blood group antigens in the intestines of suckling pigs: lectin histochemistry and immunohistochemical analysis. Histochemical Journal 23, 43–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kolb, H & Pozzilli, P (1999) Cow's milk and type 1 diabetes: the gut immune system deserves attention. Immunology Today 20, 108–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kovarik, J & Siegrist, CA (1998) Immunity in early life. Immunology Today 19, 150–152.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kraehenbuhl, JP & Neutra, MR (1992) Molecular and cellular basis of immune protection of mucosal surfaces. Physiological Reviews 72, 853–879.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kunz, C, Rodriguez-Palmero, M, Koletzko, B & Jensen, R (1999) Nutritional and biochemical properties of human milk, Part I: General aspects, proteins and carbohydrates. Clinical Perinatology 26, 307–333.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Letterio, JJ, Geiser, AG, Kulkarni, AB, Roche, NS, Sporn, MB & Roberts, AB (1994) Maternal rescue of Transforming Growth Factor-β Null mice. Science 264, 1936–1938.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mattsby-Baltzer, I, Roseanu, A, Motas, C & Hanson, L (1996) Lactoferrin or a fragment thereof inhibits the endotoxin-induced response in human monocytic cells. Pediatric Research 40, 257–262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Medzhitov, R & Janeway, CA (1997) Innate immunity: impact on the adaptive immune response. Current Opinions in Immunology 9, 4–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newburg, DS (1999) Human milk glycoconjugates that inhibit pathogens. Current Medicinal Chemistry 6, 117–127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newburg, DS, Peterson, JA, Ruiz-Palacios, GM, Matson, DO, Morrow, AL & Shults, J (1998) Role of human milk lactadherin in protection against symptomatic rotavirus infection. Lancet 351, 1160–1163.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pabst, HF, Spady, DW, Pilarski, LM, Carson, MM, Beeler, JA & Krezolek, MP (1997) Differential modulation of the immune response by breast-fed or formula-feeding of infants. Acta Paediatrica 86, 1291–1297.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pickering, LK, Granoff, DM, Erickson, JR, Masor, ML, Cordle, CT, Schaller, JP, Winship, TR, Paule, CL & Hilty, M (1998) Modulation of the immune system by human milk and infant formula containing nucleotides. Pediatrics 101, 242–249.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rennels, MB (1996) Influence of breast-feeding and oral polio virus vaccine on immunogenicity and efficacy of rotavirus vaccines. Journal of Infectious Disease 174, S107-S111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ridge, JP, Fuchs, EJ & Matzinger, P (1996) Neonatal tolerance revisited: turning on newborn T cells with dendritic cells. Science 271, 1723–1726.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rook, GAW & Stanford, JL (1998) Give us our daily germs. Immunology Today 19, 113–116.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saarinen, UM & Kajosaari, M (1995) Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow up study until 17 years old. Lancet 346, 1065–1069.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schroten, H, Stapper, C, Plogmann, R, Kohler, H, Hacker, J & Hanisch, FG (1998) Fab-mediated anti-adhesion effects of secretory IgA on S-fimbriated E. coli are mediated by sialyloligosaccharides. Infection and Immunology 66, 3971–3973.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seignole, D, Mouricout, M, Duval-Iflah, Y, Quintard, B & Julien, R (1991) Adhesion of K99 Escherichia coli to pig intestinal epithelium: correlation of adhesive phenotypes and non-adhesive phenotypes with the sialoglycolipid content. Journal of General Microbiology 137, 1591–1601.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siegrist, CA, Saddallah, F, Tougne, C, Martinez, X, Kovarik, J & Lambert, PH (1998) Induction of neonatal TH1 and CTL responses by live viral vaccines: a role for replication patterns within antigen presenting cells. Vaccine 16, 1473–1478.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silva, AM, Bambirra, EA, Oliveira, AL, Souza, PP, Gomes, DA, Vieira, EC & Nicoli, JR (1999) Protective effect of Bifidus milk on the experimental infection with Salmonella enteritidis subsp.typhimurium in conventional and gnotobiotic mice. Journal of Applied Microbiology 86, 331–336.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Strobel, S & Mowat, A (1998) Immune responses to dietary antigens: oral tolerance. Immunology Today 19, 173–181.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Taatjes, DJ & Roth, J (1990) Selective loss of sialic acid from rat small intestinal epithelial cells during postnatal development: demonstration with lectin-gold techniques. European Journal of Cell Biology 53, 255–266.Google ScholarPubMed
Teraguchi, S, Shin, K, Fukuwatari, Y & Shimamura, S (1996) Glycans of bovine lactoferrin function as receptors for type1 fimbrial lectin of. Escherichia coli. Infection and Immunology 64, 1075–1077.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tomasi, TB (1983) Mechanisms of immune regulation at mucosal surfaces. Reviews in Infectious Diseases 5, S784-S792.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vesikari, T & Joensuu, J (1996) Review of rotavirus vaccine trials in Finland. Journal of Infectious Disease 174, S81-S87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wang, T & Xu, RJ (1996) Effects of colostrum feeding on intestinal development in newborn pigs. Biology of the Neonate 70, 339–348.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, M, Seymour, R & Henderson, B (1998) Bacterial perturbation of cytokine networks. Infection and Immunity 66, 2401–2409.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wold, AE & Alderberth, I (1998) Does breast feeding affect the infant's immune responsiveness. Acta Paediatrica 87, 19–22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Xanthou, M (1997) Human milk cells. Acta Paediatrica 86, 1288–1290.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zanetti, M (1992) Ontogeny of the immune system and the invisible frontier to immune regulation. International Reviews in Immunology 8, 209–218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed