Influence of Previous COVID-19 and Mastitis Infections on the Secretion of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Nerve Growth Factor in Human Milk

Authors

Veronique Demers-Mathieu, Medolac Laboratories A Public Benefit Corporation
Dustin J. Hines, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Rochelle M. Hines, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Sirima Lavangnananda, Medolac Laboratories A Public Benefit Corporation
Shawn Fels, Medolac Laboratories A Public Benefit Corporation
Elena Medo, Medolac Laboratories A Public Benefit Corporation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-8-2021

Publication Title

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Publisher

MDPI

Volume

22

Issue

8

First page number:

1

Last page number:

12

Abstract

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) play a critical role in neurodevelopment, where breast milk is a significant dietary source. The impact of previous COVID-19 infection and mastitis on the concentration of BDNF and NGF in human milk was investigated. Methods: Concentrations of BDNF and NGF were measured via ELISA in human milk samples collected from 12 mothers with a confirmed COVID-19 PCR, 13 mothers with viral symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, and 22 unexposed mothers (pre-pandemic Ctl-2018). These neurotrophins were also determined in 12 mothers with previous mastitis and 18 mothers without mastitis. Results: The NGF concentration in human milk was lower in the COVID-19 PCR and viral symptoms groups than in the unexposed group, but BDNF did not differ significantly. Within the COVID-19 group, BDNF was higher in mothers who reported headaches or loss of smell/taste when compared with mothers without the respective symptom. BDNF was lower in mothers with mastitis than in mothers without mastitis. Conclusions: Previous COVID-19 and mastitis infections changed differently the secretion of NGF and BDNF in human milk. Whether the changes in NGF and BDNF levels in milk from mothers with infection influence their infant’s development remains to be investigated.

Keywords

Breast milk; Breastfeeding; Central nervous system; Immune system; Infectious disease; Neurodevelopment; Neurological symptoms; Neurotrophins; Newborns; SARS-CoV-2

Disciplines

Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | Women's Health

File Format

pdf

File Size

830 KB

Language

English

Rights

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Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Repository Citation

Demers-Mathieu, V., Hines, D., Hines, R., Lavangnananda, S., Fels, S., Medo, E. (2021). Influence of Previous COVID-19 and Mastitis Infections on the Secretion of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Nerve Growth Factor in Human Milk. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(8), 1-12. MDPI.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms22083846