How the Immune System Regulates Breast Milk Production

Researchers from the Pasteur Institute and the NIAID (NIH, Bethesda) have discovered that the maternal immune system regulates lactation by differentiating the mammary gland during pregnancy. A specific population of lymphocytes promotes milk production and ejection, thereby improving the health of newborns. This discovery highlights the importance of maternal immune status and opens new avenues for addressing lactation challenges. The study was conducted by a team from the NIAID (NIH, USA) led by Prof. Yasmine Belkaid, now President of the Institut Pasteur (Paris).

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