Brief Summary
Background:
Infection in preterm infants is a common, costly, and devastating problem frequently causing death or sequelae for survivors. An immature immune system underlies the frequency and severity of infections in this vulnerable population. The mouth is the site where microbes first meet the mucosal immune system. Antimicrobial proteins and peptides (APPs) in saliva kill microbes and improve immune cell function. Low APP levels increase the risk of developing infection. Colostrum and human milk reduce the risk of infection. This protective effect of human milk may come from supplying or stimulating infant production of APPs. No prior investigation has determined the concentration of APPs in saliva or the effect of human milk/formula on the APP concentrations in saliva.
Objective(s) and Hypothesis(es):
The investigators objectives are to identify and serially determine the concentrations of key APPs in colostrum, human milk, and preterm infant saliva using highly-sensitive and specific mass spectroscopy methods. The investigators study is designed to test the hypotheses that (a) all saliva APPs increase over time, (b) APP concentrations are higher in colostrum as compared to human milk, and (c) APPs are increased in saliva of infants that receive colostrum orally compared to those that do not.
Potential Impact:
If increased saliva APP levels are associated with oral colostrum priming, this discovery would advance understanding of the immune properties of human milk and identify oral APPs as important immune elements and potential therapeutic targets in this vulnerable population. This knowledge has the potential to alter feeding practices and provide a safe, low cost means to improve immune function and significantly improve outcomes for preterm infants.
Infection in preterm infants is a common, costly, and devastating problem frequently causing death or sequelae for survivors. An immature immune system underlies the frequency and severity of infections in this vulnerable population. The mouth is the site where microbes first meet the mucosal immune system. Antimicrobial proteins and peptides (APPs) in saliva kill microbes and improve immune cell function. Low APP levels increase the risk of developing infection. Colostrum and human milk reduce the risk of infection. This protective effect of human milk may come from supplying or stimulating infant production of APPs. No prior investigation has determined the concentration of APPs in saliva or the effect of human milk/formula on the APP concentrations in saliva.
Objective(s) and Hypothesis(es):
The investigators objectives are to identify and serially determine the concentrations of key APPs in colostrum, human milk, and preterm infant saliva using highly-sensitive and specific mass spectroscopy methods. The investigators study is designed to test the hypotheses that (a) all saliva APPs increase over time, (b) APP concentrations are higher in colostrum as compared to human milk, and (c) APPs are increased in saliva of infants that receive colostrum orally compared to those that do not.
Potential Impact:
If increased saliva APP levels are associated with oral colostrum priming, this discovery would advance understanding of the immune properties of human milk and identify oral APPs as important immune elements and potential therapeutic targets in this vulnerable population. This knowledge has the potential to alter feeding practices and provide a safe, low cost means to improve immune function and significantly improve outcomes for preterm infants.
Brief Title
Effect of Colostrum on Mucosal Immunity in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBWs) Premature Infants
Detailed Description
Background: Between 20 and 60% of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are diagnosed with infection during their initial hospitalization2-9. Infection in preterm infants is a costly and devastating problem associated with high mortality and debilitating survivor morbidity. High infection rates are attributed to suboptimal preterm neonatal immune function. In depth investigation of the unique properties of the preterm neonatal immune function is necessary to identify novel interventions that can translate into improved neonatal outcomes.
Mucosal surfaces are critical immune barriers that shield against host microbial invasion by surface-colonizing commensal or potentially pathogenic organisms. Antimicrobial proteins and peptides (APPs) on mucosal surfaces reduce microbial burden individually and synergistically by direct killing of microbes and by improving immune surveillance through activation of local sentinel cells. Deficiencies in these innate immune proteins predispose the host to infection or dysregulated inflammation. Two major classes of APPs (defensins and cathelicidin) are present on mucosal surfaces in adults. Colostrum and human milk (HM) contain some APPs that may play an adjuvant role on mucosal sites including the mouth. HM ingestion is associated with a decreased risk of developing sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. One potential mechanism behind the reduction in infection risk associated with HM feeding may be enhanced immunocompetence through provision of APPs and induction of neonatal APP production. Investigators are not aware of any investigation that has determined the neonatal salivary concentration of any APP or the effect of oral priming (OP) with colostrum on the concentration of salivary APPs. It is also unknown whether OP with formula modifies salivary APPs.
Objectives and Hypotheses: Our objectives are to determine: 1) the concentration of salivary APPs from preterm infants at baseline and 7 days later, 2) the effect of oral priming (OP) with either human milk or formula on salivary APP concentrations, and 3) the concentration of APPs in colostrum as compared to milk. Our hypotheses are: 1) All salivary APPs increase over time in preterm infants (with or without OP) 2) Compared with formula OP or no OP, colostrum OP is associated with a significantly greater increase in salivary LL-37 and hBD2 concentrations and 3) Colostrum contains a greater concentration of LL-37 compared to human milk.
Design: Following the mother's decision to provide human milk or formula to her preterm newborn, VLBW infants will be randomized to receive OP or not. Investigators will compare the concentration of salivary APPs from VLBW infants that receive OP to VLBW infants that do not. Saliva will be sampled prior to and after 5 days of OP. Time-matched saliva samples will be obtained from the infants that do not receive OP. APP concentrations will be compared between the biological mother's colostrum (both whey and fat fractions) and her transitional milk (produced \>7 days after birth). To account for the heterogeneous VLBW population, investigators will study 200 infants (50 infants/group, 4 groups) to test our hypotheses. Both inborn and outborn VLBW infants are eligible. Exclusion criteria include infants with a medical contraindication for oral or enteral feeds, congenital anomalies or chromosomal disorders. Saliva and milk-based proteomes including APPs will be determined using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF).
Potential Impact: This is the first study of APPs in saliva of human neonates. If increased saliva APP levels are associated with colostrum OP, this discovery would add to our understanding of the immune properties of human milk. Identification of APPs as important elements that improve immune function is likely to alter the approach to infant nutrition and improve outcomes for premature infants. Ultimately, our goal is to determine whether there is an association between APP levels in neonatal saliva and the incidence of neonatal infection (including NEC) in an appropriately powered clinical study based on the data generated in this proposal.
Mucosal surfaces are critical immune barriers that shield against host microbial invasion by surface-colonizing commensal or potentially pathogenic organisms. Antimicrobial proteins and peptides (APPs) on mucosal surfaces reduce microbial burden individually and synergistically by direct killing of microbes and by improving immune surveillance through activation of local sentinel cells. Deficiencies in these innate immune proteins predispose the host to infection or dysregulated inflammation. Two major classes of APPs (defensins and cathelicidin) are present on mucosal surfaces in adults. Colostrum and human milk (HM) contain some APPs that may play an adjuvant role on mucosal sites including the mouth. HM ingestion is associated with a decreased risk of developing sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. One potential mechanism behind the reduction in infection risk associated with HM feeding may be enhanced immunocompetence through provision of APPs and induction of neonatal APP production. Investigators are not aware of any investigation that has determined the neonatal salivary concentration of any APP or the effect of oral priming (OP) with colostrum on the concentration of salivary APPs. It is also unknown whether OP with formula modifies salivary APPs.
Objectives and Hypotheses: Our objectives are to determine: 1) the concentration of salivary APPs from preterm infants at baseline and 7 days later, 2) the effect of oral priming (OP) with either human milk or formula on salivary APP concentrations, and 3) the concentration of APPs in colostrum as compared to milk. Our hypotheses are: 1) All salivary APPs increase over time in preterm infants (with or without OP) 2) Compared with formula OP or no OP, colostrum OP is associated with a significantly greater increase in salivary LL-37 and hBD2 concentrations and 3) Colostrum contains a greater concentration of LL-37 compared to human milk.
Design: Following the mother's decision to provide human milk or formula to her preterm newborn, VLBW infants will be randomized to receive OP or not. Investigators will compare the concentration of salivary APPs from VLBW infants that receive OP to VLBW infants that do not. Saliva will be sampled prior to and after 5 days of OP. Time-matched saliva samples will be obtained from the infants that do not receive OP. APP concentrations will be compared between the biological mother's colostrum (both whey and fat fractions) and her transitional milk (produced \>7 days after birth). To account for the heterogeneous VLBW population, investigators will study 200 infants (50 infants/group, 4 groups) to test our hypotheses. Both inborn and outborn VLBW infants are eligible. Exclusion criteria include infants with a medical contraindication for oral or enteral feeds, congenital anomalies or chromosomal disorders. Saliva and milk-based proteomes including APPs will be determined using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF).
Potential Impact: This is the first study of APPs in saliva of human neonates. If increased saliva APP levels are associated with colostrum OP, this discovery would add to our understanding of the immune properties of human milk. Identification of APPs as important elements that improve immune function is likely to alter the approach to infant nutrition and improve outcomes for premature infants. Ultimately, our goal is to determine whether there is an association between APP levels in neonatal saliva and the incidence of neonatal infection (including NEC) in an appropriately powered clinical study based on the data generated in this proposal.
Completion Date
Completion Date Type
Actual
Conditions
Prematurity
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Very low birth weight (\<1500 g)
* Gestational age \<30 weeks
* Admission to NICU (born at Vanderbilt or transferred in for care)
* English or Spanish-speaking parents
Exclusion Criteria:
* Does not meet inclusion criteria
* Parent does not give study consent
* Has congenital anomalies, chromosomal disorder or medical contraindication to oral/enteral feedings
* Very low birth weight (\<1500 g)
* Gestational age \<30 weeks
* Admission to NICU (born at Vanderbilt or transferred in for care)
* English or Spanish-speaking parents
Exclusion Criteria:
* Does not meet inclusion criteria
* Parent does not give study consent
* Has congenital anomalies, chromosomal disorder or medical contraindication to oral/enteral feedings
Inclusion Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Very low birth weight (\<1500 g)
* Gestational age \<30 weeks
* Admission to NICU (born at Vanderbilt or transferred in for care)
* English or Spanish-speaking parents
* Very low birth weight (\<1500 g)
* Gestational age \<30 weeks
* Admission to NICU (born at Vanderbilt or transferred in for care)
* English or Spanish-speaking parents
Gender
All
Gender Based
false
Keywords
antimicrobial proteins
Healthy Volunteers
No
Last Update Post Date
Last Update Post Date Type
Actual
Last Update Submit Date
Maximum Age
1 Year
NCT Id
NCT01776268
Org Class
Other
Org Full Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Org Study Id
121760
Overall Status
Completed
Phases
Not Applicable
Primary Completion Date
Primary Completion Date Type
Actual
Official Title
Effect of Colostrum on Innate Mucosal Immunity in Very Premature Infants
Primary Outcomes
Outcome Description
Saliva will be sampled on day 1-2 of life prior to oral priming. Investigators are assessing saliva for a change in the concentration of antimicrobial proteins.
Outcome Measure
Concentration of APPs Before Oral Priming
Outcome Time Frame
days 1-2 of life
Outcome Description
Saliva will be sampled 24-48 hours after the 5-days of oral priming is completed. Investigators are assessing saliva for a change in the concentration of antimicrobial proteins.
Outcome Measure
Concentration of APPs After Oral Priming
Outcome Time Frame
days 7-9 of life
See Also Links
Start Date
Start Date Type
Actual
Status Verified Date
First Post Date
First Post Date Type
Estimated
First Submit Date
First Submit QC Date
Std Ages
Child
Maximum Age Number (converted to Years and rounded down)
1
Minimum Age Number (converted to Years and rounded down)
0
Investigators
Investigator Type
Principal Investigator
Investigator Name
Mariam Susan Latuga
Investigator Email
mlatuga@montefiore.org
Investigator Phone
: (718) 904-4105