Human milk extracellular vesicle-small RNA expression and potential interdependence with maternal characteristics: a Greek context

Abstract

Human milk entails extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are transports of biological load from mother to nursling, including small RNAs. We executed the first Greek disquisition that describes the EV miRNA portrait of human milk in 11 mothers from a homogeneous population of Thessaloniki, Greece. The paper’s goals were to: (1) pinpoint ample miRNAs in human milk and inquire into the impact of milk maturity on small RNAs, (2) arrange miRNAs in groups by their expression levels, (3) describe possible biological functions of these miRNAs via gene ontology and (4) investigate whether in our study the maternal characteristics affect small RNAs. Breast milk was collected the first two months post-delivery. Via small RNA sequencing, we assessed potential pathways and ontology. Nine EV-miRNA clusters were ascertained while correlation coefficients denoted high correlation of miRNAs expression arranged in the clusters. Top-cluster human milk EV-miRNAs participate in a range of functions from metabolic and biosynthetic operations to signaling pathways, cellular adhesion, communication, growth, and differentiation. Finally, we detected the less known miR-3184 (contributes to immune system function, nutrient bioavailability, iron homeostasis or vitamin C transport).