CAPS PaperBreast milk-derived exosomes promote intestinal epithelial cell growth
Section snippets
Rat breast milk collection
All animal experiments were approved by the Animal Care Committee of The Hospital for Sick Children (no. 32239), and all methods were performed according to its guidelines and regulations. Breast milk was collected from rats between seven and fourteen days postpartum, as this is the period of highest milk production [9]. Milk was collected from six female rats, in order to accumulate enough milk to isolate exosomes for cell treatment. Prior to collection, the mother was separated from her pups
Effective milk collection technique
Using our milk collection method (Fig. 1A), we were able to collect approximately 1 to 1.5 ml of milk per rat. This volume was then greatly reduced by the removal of fat, cells and debris, resulting in a remaining milk volume, to which ExoQuick reagent was added, equal to approximately one fifth of the original volume of raw milk collected (Fig. 1B). Centrifugation then resulted in a visible exosome pellet (Fig. 1C).
Confirmation and characterization of rat milk-derived exosomes
Following identical dilution protocols, protein concentrations were ten times
Discussion
This study demonstrates for the first time that rat milk-derived exosomes significantly promote intestinal epithelial cell viability, enhance proliferation, and stimulate intestinal stem cell activity. These results highlight the importance of these cell-derived vesicles in breast milk.
In this study, we outlined an effective method for collecting milk from rats and extracting exosomes from this source. Confirmation of exosome isolation was carried out by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. These
Competing interests
The authors have no competing financial interests in relation to this study.
Acknowledgments
Dr. Agostino Pierro was supported by the endowment of the Robert M. Filler Chair of Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, and by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Foundation Grant.
References (18)
- et al.
Necrotizing enterocolitis: prevention, treatment, and outcome
J Pediatr Surg
(2013) - et al.
Exosomes secreted from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells protect the intestines from experimental necrotizing enterocolitis
J Pediatr Surg
(2016) - et al.
Intestinal epithelial cell injury is rescued by hydrogen sulfide
J Pediatr Surg
(2016) - et al.
Grape exosome-like nanoparticles induce intestinal stem cells and protect mice from DSS-induced colitis
Mol Ther
(2013) - et al.
Breast milk protects against the development of necrotizing enterocolitis through inhibition of toll-like receptor 4 in the intestinal epithelium via activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor
Mucosal Immunol
(2015) - et al.
Formula versus donor breast milk for feeding preterm or low birth weight infants
Cochrane Database Syst Rev
(2014) - et al.
Differences in exosome populations in human breast milk in relation to allergic sensitization and lifestyle
Allergy
(2014) - et al.
Classification, functions, and clinical relevance of extracellular vesicles
Pharmacol Rev
(2012) - et al.
Bioactive compounds in human milk and intestinal health and maturity in preterm newborn: an overview
Cell Mol Biol
(2013)
Cited by (174)
Human breast milk: A promising treatment for necrotizing enterocolitis
2023, Early Human DevelopmentEngineered exosomes for cancer theranostics: Next-generation tumor targeting
2023, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and TechnologyThe contributions of parental lactation on offspring development: It's not udder nonsense!
2023, Hormones and Behavior