Minor proteins, including growth factors

Abstract

Minor milk proteins and growth factors assist in furthering the maternal influence on development. The angiogenins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, heparin affin regulatory peptide and kininogen all serve multiple roles within neural and cellular development while promoting tissue vascularity. Some proteins also direct immune function together with β2-microglobulin, osteopontin, proteose peptone 3 and TGFβ1And 2 among others. The IGFs and their binding proteins as well as the key mitogens EGF and TGFα and various metabolic regulatory molecules and vitamin-binding proteins are key functional entities in milk. It is clear that the spectrum of minor proteins in milk is no less complex than that found in the maternal or neonatal circulation.