Author
HORTON, CHRIS - UAMS IMBRE STUDENT | |
BURRIS, RAMONA - ACNC | |
BADGER, THOMAS - ACNC/UAMS | |
NAGARAJAN, SHANMUGAM - ACNC/UAMS |
Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2008 Publication Date: 4/9/2008 Citation: Horton, C., Burris, R.L., Badger, T.M., Nagarajan, S. 2008. Soy-based formula does not adversely affect immune system development in neonatal piglets [abstract]. The FASEB Journal. 22:150.6. Interpretive Summary: Breast-feeding is considered as the best for the growth and development of infants. However >70% of the infants in the USA are fed some type of infant formula. Breast-milk infants appear to be less prone to infections. This suggests that breast milk influence the immune system development. In addition, there is a growing controversy about the toxic effect of soy infant formula. Therefore we studied the effect of formula feeding, including soy infant formula, on the immune system development in a piglet model. Our findings show immune cells from sow-fed piglets can multiply better than the cells from formula (milk or soy)-fed piglets. Our findings also show there is no difference in the immune response between milk and soy formula. Our findings suggest that the adaptive immune system in sow-reared piglets is functionally better developed than formula-fed piglets. It also suggests that soy formula does not have any adverse effect on the neonatal immune system development. Technical Abstract: Breast-fed infants are less susceptible to infections and allergic reactions than those fed formula, suggesting that diet may influence neonatal immune system development. The goal of the present study was two fold: 1. to determine the effect of formula feeding relative to breast-feeding on neonatal immunity; and 2) to determine whether soy-based formula has any adverse effects on neonatal immune system development. Piglets were breast-fed by the sow or weaned at 2 days to a milk- or soy-based formula. At PND 21, splenocytes from the sow-fed group showed 3 to 4 fold higher T lymphocyte proliferation compared to the formula-fed groups. The increase in T-lymphocyte proliferation was also reflected in circulating levels of IgG and IgM in sow-reared piglets. Notably, both formula diets showed greater NK cell cytotoxicity than the sow-fed piglets. Our findings suggest that the neonatal innate immune system in sow-reared piglets is functionally better developed than that in formula-fed piglets. Comparison between soy- and milk-based formulas did not show any differences in NK cell cytotoxicity, total circulating antibody levels or lymphocyte proliferation, suggesting that soy formula does not have adverse effects on neonatal immune system development. |