Expression Profiles of Hsa-miR-148a-3p and Hsa-miR-125b-5p in Human Breast Milk and Infant Formulae

Overview

Journal Int Breastfeed J

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2022 Jan 4

PMID 34980190

Citations 7

Authors

Takeshi Chiba

Aya Kooka

Kiyoko Kowatari

Megumi Yoshizawa

Naoko Chiba

Akira Takaguri

Yoshiyuki Fukushi

Fuminori Hongo

Hideki Sato

Shinichiro Wada

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Milk-derived microRNAs (miRNAs), including hsa-miR-148a-3p (miR-148a) and hsa-miR-125b-5p (miR-125b), have been shown to be beneficial to the gastrointestinal function in infants. Here, we investigated their expression during lactation in humans and determined whether the infant formulae available in Japan contain these miRNAs.

Methods: Healthy Japanese women (n = 16) who gave birth vaginally or by cesarean section at the Teine Keijinkai Hospital between 1 September 2020, and 31 April 2021 were included in this study. Breast milk was collected by nurses on days 4 or 5 after delivery (hereinafter, transition milk) and on day 30 of postpartum (hereinafter, mature milk). The levels of miR-148a and miR-125b in breastmilk and six commercially available infant formulae were compared and evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results: In all participants, the miR-148a level in mature breastmilk was significantly lower than that in the transition milk. The changes in miR-125b expression during lactation showed similar trends to the changes in miR-148a expression. The miR-148a and miR-125b levels in all analyzed infant formulae were lower than 1/500th and 1/100th of those in mature breastmilk, respectively.

Conclusions: The levels of both miR-148a and miR-125b in human breast milk decreased on day 30 postpartum compared with those in the transition milk. Additionally, the expression of these miRNAs in infant formulae available in Japan was very low. Further studies with larger populations are required to understand precisely the lactational changes in the expression of miR148a and miR-125b in breast milk.

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