Blood. 2009 Jan 5. [Epub ahead of print] Improved outcome of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation due to breast-feeding-induced tolerance to maternal antigens. Aoyama K, Koyama M, Matsuoka KI, Hashimoto D, Ichinohe T, Harada M, Akashi K, Tanimoto M, Teshima T. Biopathological Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama, Japan. Exposure of offspring to noninherited maternal antigens (NIMAs) during pregnancy may have an impact on transplants performed later in life. Using a mouse model, we recently showed that bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from NIMA-exposed offspring to the mother led to a reduction of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Since offspring can also be exposed to NIMAs by breast-feeding after birth, we tested whether breast milk could mediate the tolerogenic NIMA effect. We found that oral exposure to NIMAs by breast-feeding alone was sufficient to reduce GVHD, and that in utero exposure to NIMAs is required for maximum reduction of GVHD. The tolerogenic milk effects disappeared when donor mice were injected with CD25 monoclonal antibodies during the lactation period, suggesting a CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T-cell-dependent mechanism. Our results suggest a previously unknown impact of breast-feeding on the outcome of transplantation. PMID: 19124834 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome