Jack C Yu1, Hesam Khodadadi2,3, Évila Lopes Salles2,3, Quyen Pham4, Pinkal Patel4, Babak Baban2,3. 1. Children's Hospital of Georgia and Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA. 2. Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA. 3. Center for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Innovation, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.
Abstract
Introduction: In addition to hand washing and wearing masks, social distancing and reducing exposure time to <15 minutes are the most effective measures against the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, three of these guidelines are very difficult, if not impossible, for nursing babies: they cannot wear masks, stay six feet away from the lactating breasts, nor consistently finish within 15 minutes while nursing. We report a case of a nursing mother with SARS-CoV-2 infection, documenting changes of immune cells and cytokines in breast milk with and without the infection. Case Description: With Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, we obtained expressed breast milk samples from a lactating mother before and during SARS-CoV-2 infection as documented by reverse transcription-PCR. Using flow cytometry analysis, we measured the immune cell profiles and expression of cytokines such as interferon alpha (IFNα) in milk leukocytes before and during infection. Results: There was an eightfold increase in IFNα+ milk leukocytes, from 1% before SARS-CoV-2 infection to 8% when actively infected. The milk macrophages showed the highest increase in IFNα expression. Both T and B lymphocytes showed mild increase. Innate lymphoid cells, neutrophils, and natural killer cells showed no increase in IFNα expression and the dendritic cells actually showed a reduction. Conclusion: We document the presence and high expression of IFNα in the breast milk macrophages of a lactating mother with confirmed COVID-19, compared with her milk before the infection.
Introduction: In addition to hand washing and wearing masks, social distancing and reducing exposure time to <15 minutes are the most effective measures against the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, three of these guidelines are very difficult, if not impossible, for nursing babies: they cannot wear masks, stay six feet away from the lactating breasts, nor consistently finish within 15 minutes while nursing. We report a case of a nursing mother with SARS-CoV-2 infection, documenting changes of immune cells and cytokines in breast milk with and without the infection. Case Description: With Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, we obtained expressed breast milk samples from a lactating mother before and during SARS-CoV-2 infection as documented by reverse transcription-PCR. Using flow cytometry analysis, we measured the immune cell profiles and expression of cytokines such as interferon alpha (IFNα) in milk leukocytes before and during infection. Results: There was an eightfold increase in IFNα+ milk leukocytes, from 1% before SARS-CoV-2 infection to 8% when actively infected. The milk macrophages showed the highest increase in IFNα expression. Both T and B lymphocytes showed mild increase. Innate lymphoid cells, neutrophils, and natural killer cells showed no increase in IFNα expression and the dendritic cells actually showed a reduction. Conclusion: We document the presence and high expression of IFNα in the breast milk macrophages of a lactating mother with confirmed COVID-19, compared with her milk before the infection.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; breast milk; cellular immunity; interferon alpha
Authors: Miguel Ángel Marín Gabriel; Ana María Malalana Martínez; María Eugenia Marín Martínez; Jorge Anel Pedroche Journal: Breastfeed Med Date: 2020-07-09 Impact factor: 1.817
Authors: Hesam Khodadadi; Évila Lopes Salles; Abbas Jarrahi; Fairouz Chibane; Vincenzo Costigliola; Jack C Yu; Kumar Vaibhav; David C Hess; Krishnan M Dhandapani; Babak Baban Journal: Cannabis Cannabinoid Res Date: 2020-09-02
Authors: Veronique Demers-Mathieu; Dung M Do; Gabrielle B Mathijssen; David A Sela; Antti Seppo; Kirsi M Järvinen; Elena Medo Journal: J Perinatol Date: 2020-09-01 Impact factor: 2.521