BACKGROUND Breast milk contains several immune modulator components. The transfer of numerous cytokines via mother's milk may add to an active stimulation of the infant's immune system. There are many factors in breast milk that could either facilitate or inhibit cytokine activities. Smoking negatively influences the immune system and changes the concentrations of important cytokines. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the effect of smoking during pregnancy on the cytokines found in colostrum and mature human milk. METHODS The study population included 25 smoker and 27 non-smoker nursing mothers who gave birth to a term healthy infant via cesarean section. Breast milk was collected from the mothers on the 2(nd)-3(rd) and 21(st)-25(th) days postpartum during visits to examine the newborns. Samples were analyzed for IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α and TNF-β cytokines by flow cytometric bead array. RESULTS We first saw that concentrations of IL-1 β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and TNF-β cytokines, but not IL-12, were measurable both in colostrum and in mature milk, being higher in colostrum. Next we observed that IL-1β and IL-8 levels were significantly lower in colostrum, and IL-6 was found to be significantly lower in the mature milk of smoking mothers. No significant effects of maternal smoking on breast milk concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and TNF-β were observed. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that maternal smoking alters the colostrum and mature milk levels of some cytokines. Therefore, it is thought that active smoking during pregnancy decreases the concentration of certain cytokines in breast milk, which might account for the newborn's increased susceptibility to infections.

中文翻译：

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孕妇吸烟对初乳和母乳细胞因子的影响。

背景技术母乳包含几种免疫调节剂组分。通过母乳转移多种细胞因子可能会积极刺激婴儿的免疫系统。母乳中有许多因素可以促进或抑制细胞因子的活性。吸烟会对免疫系统产生负面影响，并改变重要细胞因子的浓度。目的本研究的目的是评估怀孕期间吸烟对初乳和成熟人乳中发现的细胞因子的影响。方法该研究人群包括25名吸烟者和27名非吸烟者哺乳母亲，这些母亲通过剖腹产分娩了足月健康婴儿。在探视期间，在产后第2（nd）-3（rd）和21（st）-25（th）天从母亲那里收集母乳。分析样品中的IL-1β，通过流式细胞术微珠阵列检测IL-2，IL-4，IL-5，IL-6，IL-8，IL-10，TNF-α和TNF-β细胞因子。结果我们首先看到IL-1β，IL-2，IL-4，IL-5，IL-6，IL-8，IL-10，IFN-γ，TNF-α和TNF-β细胞因子的浓度，初乳和成熟牛奶中的IL-12均无法测量，但初乳中的IL-12含量较高。接下来，我们观察到初乳中的IL-1β和IL-8水平显着降低，而吸烟母亲的成熟牛奶中IL-6被显着降低。孕妇吸烟对母乳中IL-2，IL-4，IL-5，IL-10，IFN-γ，TNF-α和TNF-β的浓度没有显着影响。结论这些发现表明，孕妇吸烟会改变某些细胞因子的初乳和成熟牛奶水平。所以，