Immune System Modulation by Human Milk

The mother’s immune system seems to have a much more active role for the development and protection of her fetus and newborn than previously realized. We have recently learned that various cytokines of the mother’s immune response to her fetus play a major role in actively monitoring pregnancy, such as mediating the implantation in the decidua of the fertilized egg and the growth of the placenta. Breastfeeding we have mainly thought of as a process providing passive protection of the infant by transferring various ready made protective factors like secretory IgA antibodies, lactoferrin, oligosaccharides functioning as receptor analogues etc. Such protection is well proven against numerous infections. Now we realize that breastfeeding also brings various active stimuli for the immune system of the infant providing possibilities for enhanced protection against infections also after the termination of breastfeeding.