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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2026; 32(34): 120518
Published online Sep 14, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i34.120518
Published online Sep 14, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i34.120518
Lactation stage-dependent protective effects of human milk exosomes against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury via lactoferrin/lysozyme-mediated Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB pathways
Guang Yang, Li Liu, Department of Neonatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
Guang Yang, Department of Pediatrics, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong 030619, Shanxi Province, China
Author contributions: Yang G initiated research; Yang G and Liu L designed the experiments and conducted clinical data collection, performed postoperative follow-up and recorded the data, conducted the collation and statistical analysis, and wrote the original manuscript and revised the paper; and all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: No AI tools were used in writing, editing, or generating any part of this manuscript, including text, images, and data analysis.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanxi Medical University, Approval No. 2025009.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: The study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Tianjin Jinke Bona Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Approval No. GENINK-20240067.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Data sharing statement: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.
Corresponding author: Li Liu, MD, Professor, Department of Neonatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Yanta District, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China. liuli918@163.com
Received: March 17, 2026
Revised: April 7, 2026
Accepted: May 12, 2026
Published online: September 14, 2026
Processing time: 154 Days and 17.3 Hours
Revised: April 7, 2026
Accepted: May 12, 2026
Published online: September 14, 2026
Processing time: 154 Days and 17.3 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study demonstrates that human milk exosomes protect against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in a lactation stage-dependent manner. Colostrum exosomes, rich in lactoferrin and lysozyme, exhibit optimal protection by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 antioxidant pathway and inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B inflammatory pathway. These findings provide a basis for developing exosome-based therapies for neonatal gut injury.