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Studies & Publications
Characterization and biological function of milk-derived miRNAs
Breastfeeding is associated with reduced risk of infection, immune-mediated disorders, obesity, and even cancer. It contains a variety of microRNAs that can be transferred to infants, and appear to play important roles in those biological functions.
Golan‐Gerstl, R., Elbaum Shiff, Y., Moshayoff, V., Schecter, D., Leshkowitz, D., & Reif, S. (2017). Characterization and biological function of milk‐derived miRNAs. Molecular nutrition & food research.
Cow and human milk-derived exosomes ameliorate Colitis in DSS murine model
This study demonstrated that cow and human milk derived exosomes have a therapeutic and anti-inflammatory effect on colitis, involving several complementary pathways in its mechanism of action.
Reif, S., Elbaum-Shiff, Y., Koroukhov, N., Shilo, I., Musseri, M., & Golan-Gerstl, R. (2020). Cow and human milk-derived exosomes ameliorate colitis in DSS murine model. Nutrients.
Extracellular vesicles in human milk
MDEVs may have an important role in early child development and infant future health. Understanding benefits of MDEVs characteristics have potential role on gut maturation, immune system development and the prevention of metabolic disorders.
Golan-Gerstl, R., & Reif, S. (2022). Extracellular vesicles in human milk. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 25(3), 209-215.
MiRNA-320a is less expressed and miRNA-148a more expressed in preterm
human milk compared to term human milk
The study investigates whether there is a difference in the profile of miRNAs between human milk (HM) from mothers of preterm versus HM from mothers of full-term infants and assesses biological functions or implications related to those differences in miRNAs expression. The conclusions are about the alterations in miRNAs expression in HM that can affect biological function in infants and may serve as a nutritional therapeutic target.
Shiff, Y. E., Reif, S., Marom, R., Shiff, K., Reifen, R., & Golan-Gerstl, R. (2019). MiRNA-320a is less expressed and miRNA-148a more expressed in preterm human milk compared to term human milk. Journal of Functional Foods, 57, 68-74.
Milk-derived exosomes (MDEs) have a different biological effect on normal fetal colon epithelial cells compared to colon tumor cells in a miRNA-dependent manner
To elucidate the biological effects of milk-derived exosomes (MDEs) on normal colonic epithelial cells compared to colonic tumor cells, we incubated cells with MDEs. In conclusion, the positive effect of exosomes on normal cells without affecting tumor cells may presents an aspect of their safety when considering it use as a nutritional supplement to infant formula
Reif, S., Elbaum Shiff, Y., & Golan-Gerstl, R. (2019). Milk-derived exosomes (MDEs) have a different biological effect on normal fetal colon epithelial cells compared to colon tumor cells in a miRNA-dependent manner. Journal of translational medicine, 17(1), 1-10.
Beneficial Effects of Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Liver Fibrosis Progression by Inhibiting Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation
Liver fibrosis accounts for over 1 million deaths per year worldwide, and a public health concern. This study demonstrates how human and cow milk-derived exosomes regulate fibrotic progression by inhibiting hepatic stellate cells activation via their miRNA content and suggest that milk-derived exosomes have an anti-fibrotic effect.
Reif, S., Atias, A., Musseri, M., Koroukhov, N., & Gerstl, R. G. (2022). Beneficial Effects of Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Liver Fibrosis Progression by Inhibiting Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation. Nutrients, 14(19), 4049.