Immune function

Abstract

Human milk contains numerous components, which have been linked to immune functions. Initially it was easy to recognise such constituents as classical members of the immune system, for example antibodies and lymphocytes, but today the list is very long. This is due to the fact that we have learnt for one thing that certain nutrients, for instance polyunsaturated fatty acids, and immune components often cooperate and/or direct each other, as exemplified below. Another reason is that the central nervous system and the immune system, which developmentally have different origins, in fact are in several modes intertwined in their functions. This may be illustrated by the fact that hormones such as leptin and growth hormone have a cytokine structure and that certain cytokines such as the pro-inflammatory IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 activate the HPA stress axis and induce production of glucocorticosteroids1, as well as leptin.2 © 2009 Springer Netherlands.