Breast Milk

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Cellular Components of Breast Milk
General Cellular Components of Breast Milk Breast milk is most commonly known as a source of nutrition for an infant; however it also provides cellular components that help the baby grow and obtain ideal function. Breast milk must contain a variety of cellular components to provide nutrition, immunity, and a variety of other functions. Some of the basic contents of breast milk include proteins, fats, glucose and vitamins to provide nutritional support for the infant. Other components of breast milk include antibodies, growth factors, hormones, and cytokines to provide for all the infants needs as it grows. Out of the cellular components of breast milk such as epithelial cells, lymphocytes, phagocytes, and colostral corpuscles, a variety of stem cells and progenitor cells were found (Indumathi, Dhanasekaran, Rajkumar, & Sudarsanam, 2012).
Stem Cell Presence in Breast Milk A variety of specific stem cells were found in breast milk including …show more content…

The cells that the breast tissue created to remodel itself are then passed through the breast into the milk and then through the milk to the baby. Leukocytes can transfer across from the digestive tract into systemic circulation, and this ability to cross the digestive tract is believed to be true of hBSCs as well. Hassiotou et al., 2012). Once ingested, the stem cells are able to cross into circulation and then engraft into various tissues and organs. The stem cells allow the infant to maintain homeostasis as well as develop, grow, repair, and regenerate. Stem cells have a very similar role in adults allowing tissue to repair and regenerate as necessary. It is the ability to repair and regenerate that makes stem cells appealing for therapeutic use (Fan, Chong, Choolani, Cregan, & Chan, 2010; Hassioutou et al.,

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