The role of the lactadherin in promoting intestinal DCs development in vivo and vitro

Lactadherin, as one of the immune components in the breast milk, might play a role in the intestinal immune system of newborn. Therefore, we investigated the effect of lactadherin-feeding in early time on the development of intestinal immune system compared with naturally rearing and artificially rearing (non-lactadherin). In the present study, we observed that the Peyer's Patches (PP) from the pups of artificially reared group with lactadherin added were characterized by an excess of OX6²⁺CD4⁺SIRP⁺ DC cells and a higher expression of CD3⁺CD4⁺CD25 ⁺T cells. Additionally, this study also demonstrated that IL-10 production was dramatically increased when lactadherin was present in culture medium compared with lactadherin-absent culture. These results suggested that lactadherin could adjust intestinal DCs activity, induce CD3⁺CD4 ⁺CD25⁺T cell differentiation, and enhance IL-10 production.