Interleukin-18 in human milk

We analyzed IL-18 levels of human milk. Colostrum. contained significantly higher levels of IL-18 compared with early milk and mature milk. By stepwis e. multiple linear regression analysis, preterm delivery and pregnancy comp lications of mothers significantly correlated with high levels of IL-18 in human milk (p = 0.0007 and 0.0018, respectively). There was a significant c orrelation between the, levels of IL-18 and soluble Fas ligand in colostrum (p = 0.0003) IL-18 was detected in actively secreting epithelial cells in lactating mammary gland by immunohistochemical staining. These results sugg est that IL-18 in colostrum plays an important role in host defense of high -risk neonates.