Marine pollutant exposures and human milk extracellular vesicle-microRNAs in a mother-infant cohort from the Faroe Islands

Proteomics can map extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, across disease states between organisms and cell types. Due to the diverse origin and cargo of EVs, tailoring methodological and analytical techniques can support the reproducibility of results. Proteomics scans are sensitive to in-sample contaminants, which can be retained during EV isolation procedures. Contaminants can also arise from the biological origin of exosomes, such as the lipid-rich environment in human milk. Human milk (HM) EVs and exosomes are emerging as a research interest in health and disease, though the experimental characterization and functional assays remain varied. Past studies of HM EV proteomes have used data-dependent acquisition methods for protein detection, however, improvements in data independent acquisition could allow for previously undetected EV proteins to be identified by mass spectrometry. Depending on the research question, only a specific population of proteins can be compared and measured using isotope and other labelling techniques. In this review, we summarize published HM EV proteomics protocols and suggest a methodological workflow with the end-goal of effective and reproducible analysis of human milk EV proteomes.

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Associations of breast milk extracellular vesicle microRNAs with perfluoroalkyl substances in a mother-infant cohort from the Faroe Islands

ISEE Conference Abstracts ◽

10.1289/isee.2020.virtual.o-sy-135 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 (1) ◽

Author(s):

A. Kupsco ◽

D. Prada ◽

D. Valvi ◽

L. Hu ◽

M. Skaalum Petersen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Extracellular Vesicle ◽

Perfluoroalkyl Substances ◽

Faroe Islands

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Human Colostrum and Derived Extracellular Vesicles Prevent Infection by Human Rotavirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Vitro

Journal of Human Lactation ◽

10.1177/0890334420988239 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 122-134

Author(s):

Andrea Civra ◽

Rachele Francese ◽

Manuela Donalisio ◽

Paola Tonetto ◽

Alessandra Coscia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Antiviral Activity ◽

Human Milk ◽

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Extracellular Vesicle ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Human Colostrum ◽

Syncytial Virus

Background It is known that breastfeeding protects the infant from enteric and respiratory infections; however, the antiviral properties of human milk against enteric and respiratory viruses are largely unexplored. Research aims To explore the antiviral activity of human preterm colostrum against rotavirus and respiratory syncytial virus and to assess whether the derived extracellular vesicle contribute to this activity. Methods We used a cross-sectional, prospective two-group non-experimental design. Colostra were collected from mothers of preterm newborns ( N = 10) and extracellular vesicles were purified and characterized. The antiviral activity of colostra and derived extracellular vesicles were tested in vitro against rotavirus and respiratory syncytial virus and the step of viral replication inhibited by extracellular vesicles was investigated. Results Each sample of colostrum and colostrum-derived extracellular vesicles had significant antiviral activity with a wide interpersonal variability. Mechanism of action studies demonstrated that extracellular vesicles acted by interfering with the early steps of the viral replicative cycle. Conclusion We demonstrated the intrinsic antiviral activity of human colostrum against rotavirus and respiratory syncytial virus and we showed that extracellular vesicles substantially contribute to the overall protective effect. Our results contribute to unravelling novel mechanisms underlying the functional role of human milk as a protective and therapeutic agent in preterm infants.

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A retrospective study of PBDEs and PCBs in human milk from the Faroe Islands

Environmental Health ◽

10.1186/1476-069x-4-12 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 94

Author(s):

Britta Fängström ◽

Anna Strid ◽

Philippe Grandjean ◽

Pál Weihe ◽

Åke Bergman

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Human Milk ◽

Faroe Islands

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Human milk extracellular vesicle miRNA expression and associations with maternal characteristics in a population-based cohort from the Faroe Islands

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84809-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Allison Kupsco ◽

Diddier Prada ◽

Damaskini Valvi ◽

Lisa Hu ◽

Maria Skaalum Petersen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Milk ◽

Mirna Expression ◽

Infant Development ◽

Critical Role ◽

Endocrine System ◽

Population Based ◽

Small Rna Sequencing ◽

Maternal Body Mass Index ◽

Faroe Islands ◽

Maternal Characteristics

AbstractHuman milk plays a critical role in infant development and health, particularly in cognitive, immune, and cardiometabolic functions. Milk contains extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can transport biologically relevant cargo from mother to infant, including microRNAs (miRNAs). We aimed to characterize milk EV-miRNA profiles in a human population cohort, assess potential pathways and ontology, and investigate associations with maternal characteristics. We conducted the first study to describe the EV miRNA profile of human milk in 364 mothers from a population-based mother-infant cohort in the Faroe Islands using small RNA sequencing. We detected 1523 miRNAs with ≥ one read in 70% of samples. Using hierarchical clustering, we determined five EV-miRNA clusters, the top three consisting of 15, 27 and 67 miRNAs. Correlation coefficients indicated that the expression of many miRNAs within the top three clusters was highly correlated. Top-cluster human milk EV-miRNAs were involved in pathways enriched for the endocrine system, cellular community, neurodevelopment, and cancers. miRNA expression was associated with time to milk collection post-delivery, maternal body mass index, and maternal smoking, but not maternal parity. Future studies investigating determinants of human EV-miRNAs and associated health outcomes are needed to elucidate the role of human milk EV-miRNAs in health and disease.

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