How breastmilk T cells may protect infants' airways
Elucidating a novel respiratory-mammary axis of T cell immunity
This project looks at whether immune T cells in breast milk help protect breastfed infants from respiratory infections by moving between the mother's nose and breast.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11482691 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will enroll breastfeeding mother–infant pairs and collect breast milk, nasal swabs, and blood samples. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing together with paired T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing to see whether the same T cells appear in both the lactating breast and the upper airway. The team will compare T cell signatures and clones to determine whether respiratory exposures seed and sustain tissue-resident memory T cells in milk. They will also examine whether infant saliva or infant respiratory infection is linked to persistence of these breastmilk T cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Breastfeeding mothers and their nursing infants who can provide milk, nasal swabs, and blood samples — especially those with recent or recurrent infant respiratory symptoms — are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: Non-breastfeeding families, adults who are not lactating, or infants/families unwilling or unable to provide the required samples would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could explain part of how breastfeeding reduces infant respiratory infections and point toward ways to boost infant protection through maternal vaccination or milk-based approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows breastfeeding lowers infant respiratory infection risk and that milk contains immune cells, but directly mapping shared T cell clones between the breast and airway with paired single-cell RNA/TCR sequencing is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Armistead, Blair — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Armistead, Blair
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.