Analysis of human colostrum reveals differential co-occurrence networks of metabolites, microbiota and cytokines in maternal obesity

Abstract

Breastmilk is essential for neonatal development, particularly in seeding the gut microbiota and modulating the immune system. This proof-of-concept study explores the systemic nature of colostrum and the influence of maternal obesity on co-occurrences of colostrum bioactives. Using 16S-rRNA sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, and cytokine quantification, we analyzed co-occurring elements in the colostrum of mothers with normal weight (18.5 < BMI < 25) or obesity (BMI > 30). We identified 5 different co-occurrence networks, characterized by positive correlations of taxonomically related bacteria. Our integrative analysis reveals that Aeromonadaceae, Xanthomonadaceae and Staphylococcaceae negatively correlate with pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12p70 in the colostrum of mothers with obesity (WO). Additionally, lipid mediators, including 15-HEDE and LysoPC (16:00), were associated with cytokines IL-10 and IL-8 and microbiota taxa Burkholderiaceae, Beijerinckiaceae and Planococcaceae – first reported in the colostrum of mothers WO. Our findings suggest a pervasive regulation of bioactives in the colostrum of mothers WO. This may have implications for distinctive neonatal intestine development.