IL-8 May Be the Target of Arsenic in Human Breast Milk

The critical aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of breast-milk contamination with Nickel and Arsenic, as well as aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) on the milk levels of IL-6 and IL-8. 

Breast milk was collected from 76 mothers on the 30th day post-parturition and milk levels of AFM1, Nickel, Arsenic, IL-6 and IL-8 were evaluated.

The results showed 8 and 29 out of 76 collected samples being contaminated with AFM1, Nickel and Arsenic, respectively. Levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the milk samples did not differ in AFM1 and Nickel and Arsenic contaminated milk compared with the normal controls (non-contaminated milks). There was a moderate positive relation between milk levels of IL-8 and Arsenic.

Although AFM1, Nickel and Arsenic are the inducers of cytokine production; they are unable to induce secretion of IL-6 in breast milk. Arsenic can be a trigger of IL-8, which is a strong chemoattract for neutrophils. Thus, it appears that Arsenic may induce an inflammation in milk in IL-8 dependent manner.