Project description:The aim of the present study was to correlate lipid metabolism genes in the mammary gland tissue affected by stage of lactation and nutrition to the resulting milk fatty acids composition in grazing dairy cows, and to classify milk fatty acid (FA) groups based on variations in lipid metabolism gene expression patterns. Identifying the relationship between lipid metabolism genes in the mammary gland tissue and the resulting milk fatty acid composition is expected to greatly contribute to our understanding of milk fatty acid metabolism and to enhance opportunities to improve milk fat composition through nutrition. In fact, SNCA, SCD5, and PNPLA2 lipid metabolism-related genes affected by unsaturated fatty acids supplementation, were found to strongly correlated to different milk FA groups, but also contributed most to the classification of these FA groups, suggesting a significant role in mediating the lipid metabolism in the mammary gland tissue and determining the milk fatty acids composition. A total of 28 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in mid-lactation were blocked according to parity (2.4 ± 0.63 years), days in milk (DIM; 153 ± 32.8 days), milk yield (25.7 ± 3.08 kg/d) and fat content (4.3 ± 0.12%). Cows were then randomly assigned to four UFA-sources based on rapeseed, soybean, linseed or a mixture of the three oils for 23 days (Period I) after which, all 28 cows were switched to a control diet for an additional 28 days (Period II). On the last day of both periods, mammary gland biopsies were taken to study genome-wide differences in lipid metabolism gene expression.
Project description:The concept of milk as a healthy food has opened the way for studies on milk components, from nutrients to microRNAs, molecules with broad regulatory properties present in large quantities in milk. Characterization of these components has been performed in several species, such as humans and bovine, depending on the stages of lactation. Here, we have studied the variation in milk microRNA composition according to genetic background. Using high throughput sequencing, we have characterized and compared the milk miRNomes of Holstein and Normande cattle, dairy breeds with distinct milk production features, in order to highlight microRNAs that are essential for regulation of the lactation process. In Holstein and Normande milk, 2,038 and 2,030 microRNAs were identified, respectively, with 1,771 common microRNAs, of which 1,049 were annotated and 722 were predicted. The comparison of the milk miRNomes of two breeds allowed to highlight 182 microRNAs displaying significant differences in the abundance. They are involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism and mammary morphogenesis and development, which affects lactation. Our results provide new insights into the regulation of molecular mechanisms involved in milk production.
Project description:To investigate the molecular bases of diet induced differences in milk composition, we collected milk from mid lactation dairy ewes and after 3 weeks of diet supplementation with extruded linseed. RNAs were isolated from milk somatic cells isolated from milk of 3 sheep and Illumina RNA sequencing was performed to analyze RNA synthesis in these cells.
Project description:Examining the relationship between maternal body size, gestational glucose tolerance status, mode of delivery and ethnicity on mother's milk microbiota at three months post-partum
Project description:In dairy cows, milk production and composition are affected by numerous factors, including diet. Milk is the body fluid with the highest RNA concentration, including numerous microRNA. These microRNA presence in the different milk compartments is still poorly documented and the effect of feed restriction on milk miRNome has not been described yet. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of feed restrictions of different intensitizes on milk compartment miRNome composition. Two feed restriction trials were performed on lactating dairy cows, one of high intensity and one of moderate intensity. 2 896 mature microRNA were identified in milk, including 1 493 that were already known in bovine specie. Among the 1 095 miRNA that were abundant enough to be informative, 10% were exclusive to one milk compartment and the abundance of 155 varied between compartments, revealing a specific miRNome for each milk fraction. Feed restriction affected differently these miRNome, with microRNA in whole milk and milk extracellular vesicles being the most affected and microRNA in fat globules and exfoliated mammary epithelial cells being relatively or completely unaffected. Target prediction of known microRNA that varied under feed restriction reflected modification of some key pathways for lactation related to milk fat and protein metabolisms, cell cycle and stress responses. These findings open up opportunities for future research on the use of milk miRNA as biomarkers of energy status in dairy cows.
Project description:The aim of the present study was to correlate lipid metabolism genes in the mammary gland tissue affected by stage of lactation and nutrition to the resulting milk fatty acids composition in grazing dairy cows, and to classify milk fatty acid (FA) groups based on variations in lipid metabolism gene expression patterns. Identifying the relationship between lipid metabolism genes in the mammary gland tissue and the resulting milk fatty acid composition is expected to greatly contribute to our understanding of milk fatty acid metabolism and to enhance opportunities to improve milk fat composition through nutrition. In fact, SNCA, SCD5, and PNPLA2 lipid metabolism-related genes affected by unsaturated fatty acids supplementation, were found to strongly correlated to different milk FA groups, but also contributed most to the classification of these FA groups, suggesting a significant role in mediating the lipid metabolism in the mammary gland tissue and determining the milk fatty acids composition.
Project description:Variations in endogenous peptide profiles, functionality, and the enzymes responsible for the formation of these peptides in human milk are understudied. Additionally, there is a lack of knowledge regarding peptides in donor human milk, which is used to feed preterm infants when mother’s own milk is not (sufficiently) available. To assess this, 29 human milk samples from the Dutch Human Milk Bank were analyzed as three groups, preterm late lactation stage (LS) (n=12), term early (n=8) and term late LS (n=9). Gestational age (GA) groups were defined as preterm (24-36 weeks) and term (>37 weeks). LS was determined as days postpartum as early (16-36 days) or late (55-88 days). Peptides, analyzed by LC-MS/MS, and parent proteins (proteins from matched peptide sequences) were identified and quantified, after which peptide functionality and the enzymes responsible for protein cleavage were determined. A total of 16 different parent proteins were identified from human milk, with no differences by GA or LS. We identified 1104 endogenous peptides, of which, the majority were from the parent proteins β-casein, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, αs1-casein, osteopontin, and κ-casein. The absolute number of peptide differed by GA and LS with 30 and 41 differing sequences respectively (p<0.05) Odds likelihood tests determined that 32 peptides had a predicted bioactive functionality, with no significant differences between groups. Enzyme prediction analysis showed that plasmin/trypsin enzymes most likely cleaved the identified human milk peptides. These results explain some of the variation in endogenous peptides in human milk, leading to future targets that may be studied for functionality.
Project description:Very little is known about miRNAs found in breastmilk cells, which also reflect the cells of the lactating mammary epithelium. Our hypothesis is that breastmilk cells are richer in miRNA compared to other milk fractions, such as skim milk. Further, the effects of milk removal by the infant on milk cell miRNA content and/or composition have not been investigated. Breastmilk cells conserved higher miRNA content than previously published lipid and skim fractions of breastmilk as well as other known sources of miRNA in humans. Specifically, 1,467 known mature miRNAs were identified and a further 1996 novel miRNAs, of which 89 were highly expressed. As previously shown, post-feed milk contained more cells than pre-feed milk, and the same was observed for miRNA content. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the expression of the total known and novel miRNAs between pre- and post-feed milk (p=0.76), although 27 known miRNAs and 1 novel miRNA were higher expressed in post-feed milk. As expected, samples richer in viable cells contained more known miRNAs (p = 0.01). Functional analysis of the top 10 most highly expressed known miRNAs showed that they may be potentially involved in crucial roles for the infant, including body fluid balance, thirst, appetite, immune responses, and development. In conclusion, breastmilk is highly rich in miRNA which may play important functions in the breastfed infant and the lactating breast. Milk removal by the infant can influence the total miRNA content of breastmilk, similar to its cell and fat content, but the miRNA composition remains constant