Exosome-based biomarker profiling of breast milk: Definition of predictive immune-modulating biomarker profiles for the management of allergic disease development in infants (11676)

Project nummer: 11676

Omschrijving van het onderzoek

Breast milk provides the first immunity to newborns and affects the maturation of their immune system. The maternal immune status influences the composition of breast milk and may be involved in the development of allergic disease later on in the infant's life. The mechanism how breast milk actually modulates the infant's immune system is not known. Recently it has been described that breast milk contains exosomes. Exosomes are nano-sized membrane vesicles. Their secretion, composition and targets are tightly regulated, which has sparked the idea that exosomes are tailor-made messengers for intercellular communication. Thus breast milk-derived exosomes could play a role in the development of the infant's immune system via the gastrointestinal tract. In the current project the researchers will investigate the origin and working-mechanism of breast milk-derived exosomes. Furthermore, the exosomal composition in relation to the allergic status of the mother will be analyzed. Based on the research, exosomes-profiles will be defined which can be used as biomarker for the characterization of the immune-modulatory potential of breast milk. The new insights obtained in the project will contribute to a better understanding how breast milk influences the infant's immune system and may be used to analyze the effects of maternal diets on the exosomal breast milk composition. Furthermore, the obtained knowledge may contribute to the optimization of formula milk.

Gebruikers

No user committee has been installed, yet.

Projectleider

Dr. M.H.M. Wauben
Universiteit Utrecht
Faculteit Diergeneeskunde
Departement Biochemie & Celbiologie
Postbus 80176
3508 TD UTRECHT

Status van het project

Starting date:	This project is not yet started
End date:

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