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Nutrients
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Programming the Immune System: The Education Role of Diet and...
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Programming the Immune System: The Education Role of Diet and Microbiota in Early Life

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2023) | Viewed by 6615

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Francisco J. Pérez-Cano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Section of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
2. Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
Interests: immunonutrition; flavonoids; microbiota; oligosaccharides; probiotics; breast milk
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

From early life, diet has a significant role in educating the immune system. The first 1000 days of life have been proposed as a window of opportunity to aid in the maturation of a baby’s microbiota and, therefore, immunity. However, early microbial exposition and passive immune transfer begin in the gestation period. It is critical to determine the immune system–diet–microbiota relationship during all these periods, and even before conception. Thus, the pre-gestation, gestation, lactation and early infancy periods will all have a role in this process.

The present topic aims to summarize the available evidence concerning the shaping effect of diet and microbiota during these periods, with a particular focus on the role of placenta transmission of immunomodulatory components, early microbiota exposure, breast milk passive transfer of bioactive compounds, maternal nutrition during these periods, and specific dietary strategies, as a tool to modulate immunity during this early critical window of opportunity, as well as mechanisms involved that can also promote health outcomes later in life.

Dr. Francisco J. Pérez-Cano
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • immune programming
  • microbiota
  • probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics
  • antioxidants
  • vitamins and polyphenols
  • breast milk
  • placenta
  • epigenetics

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 712 KiB  
Article
Immunomodulation of the Vaginal Ecosystem by Ligilactobacillus salivarius CECT 30632 Improves Pregnancy Rates among Women with Infertility of Unknown Origin or Habitual Abortions
by Leónides Fernández, Irma Castro, Rebeca Arroyo, Claudio Alba, David Beltrán and Juan M. Rodríguez
Nutrients 2023, 15(2), 362; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020362 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2828
Abstract
In this study, the probiotic potential of Ligilactobacillus salivarius CECT 30632 was assessed, including properties specifically related with gynecological targets. This strain displayed co-aggregative and antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of vaginal pathogens while being respectful with the growth of vaginal lactobacilli. [...] Read more.
In this study, the probiotic potential of Ligilactobacillus salivarius CECT 30632 was assessed, including properties specifically related with gynecological targets. This strain displayed co-aggregative and antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of vaginal pathogens while being respectful with the growth of vaginal lactobacilli. The strain produced a high concentration of lactic acid and displayed α-amylase activity when assayed in vitro. It showed a noticeable survival rate after exposition to conditions similar to those present in the human digestive tract and was adhesive to both vaginal and intestinal cells. Subsequently, their capacity to increase pregnancy rates among women with habitual abortion or infertility of unknown origin was studied. Administration of L. salivarius CECT 30632 (~9 log10 CFU) daily for a maximum of six months to these women was safe and led to a successful pregnancy rate of 67.5% (80% and 55% for women with repetitive abortion and infertile women, respectively). Significant differences in Nugent score, vaginal pH, and vaginal concentrations of lactobacilli, TGF-β, and VEFG were observed when the samples collected before the intervention were compared with those collected after the treatment among those women who got pregnant. Therefore, this strain can modulate the vaginal ecosystem and lead to better fertility outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Programming the Immune System: The Education Role of Diet and Microbiota in Early Life)
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19 pages, 1376 KiB  
Article
Fecal Microbiota and Hair Glucocorticoid Concentration Show Associations with Growth during Early Life in a Pig Model
by Francesc González-Solé, David Solà-Oriol, Sandra Villagómez-Estrada, Diego Melo-Durán, Laura Victoria López, Nathaly Villarroel Román, Marina López-Arjona and José Francisco Pérez
Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4639; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214639 - 03 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1408
Abstract
Identifying characteristics associated with fast or slow growth during early life in a pig model will help in the design of nutritional strategies or recommendations during infancy. The aim of this study was to identify if a differential growth during lactation and/or the [...] Read more.
Identifying characteristics associated with fast or slow growth during early life in a pig model will help in the design of nutritional strategies or recommendations during infancy. The aim of this study was to identify if a differential growth during lactation and/or the nursery period may be associated with fecal microbiota composition and fermentation capacity, as well as to leave a print of glucocorticoid biomarkers in the hair. Seventy-five commercial male and female pigs showing extreme growth in the lactation and nursery periods were selected, creating four groups (First, lactation growth, d0–d21; second, nursery growth, d21–d62): Slow_Slow, Slow_Fast, Fast_Slow, and Fast_Fast. At d63 of life, hair and fecal samples were collected. Fast-growing pigs during nursery had higher cortisone concentrations in the hair (p < 0.05) and a tendency to have a lower cortisol-to-cortisone ratio (p = 0.061). Both lactation and nursery growth conditioned the fecal microbiota structure (p < 0.05). Additionally, fast-growing pigs during nursery had higher evenness (p < 0.05). Lactation growth influenced the relative abundance of eight bacterial genera, while nursery growth affected only two bacterial genera (p < 0.05). The fecal butyrate concentration was higher with fast growth in lactation and/or nursery (p < 0.05), suggesting it has an important role in growth, while total SCFA and acetate were related to lactation growth (p < 0.05). In conclusion, piglets’ growth during nursery and, especially, the lactation period was associated with changes in their microbiota composition and fermentation capacity, evidencing the critical role of early colonization on the establishment of the adult microbiota. Additionally, cortisol conversion to cortisone was increased in animals with fast growth, but further research is necessary to determine its implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Programming the Immune System: The Education Role of Diet and Microbiota in Early Life)
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16 pages, 3622 KiB  
Article
Galectins-1, -3 and -9 Are Present in Breast Milk and Have a Role in Early Life Development
by Karla Rio-Aige, Marina Girbal, Marta Selma-Royo, Anna Parra-Llorca, Sonia González, Cecilia Martínez-Costa, Margarida Castell, María Carmen Collado, Francisco J. Pérez-Cano and María J. Rodríguez-Lagunas
Nutrients 2022, 14(20), 4338; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204338 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2012
Abstract
Galectins (Gal) are a family of conserved soluble proteins with high affinity for β-galactoside structures. They have been recognized as important proteins for successful pregnancy. However, little is known about their presence in breast milk and their role in early infancy. Gal-1, -3 [...] Read more.
Galectins (Gal) are a family of conserved soluble proteins with high affinity for β-galactoside structures. They have been recognized as important proteins for successful pregnancy. However, little is known about their presence in breast milk and their role in early infancy. Gal-1, -3 and -9 concentrations were evaluated by Multiplex immunoassays in mother–infant pairs from the MAMI cohort in maternal plasma (MP) (n = 15) and umbilical cord plasma (UCP) (n = 15) at birth and in breast milk samples (n = 23) at days 7 and 15 postpartum. Data regarding mother and infant characteristics were collected. Gal-9 was present in a lower concentration range than Gal-1 and Gal-3 in plasma, specifically in UCP. A major finding in the current study is that Gal-1, -3 and -9 were detected for the first time in all the transitional breast milk samples and no differences were found when comparing the two breastfeeding time points. Finally, Gal levels were associated with some maternal and infant characteristics, such as gestational age, pregnancy weight gain, maternal diet, the gender, infant growth and infant infections. In conclusion, Gal levels seem to be involved in certain developmental aspects of early life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Programming the Immune System: The Education Role of Diet and Microbiota in Early Life)
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