mSphere of Influence: The maternal gut–mammary axis and its role in shaping neonatal health

Stephanie Langel works in the field of breast milk immunity and maternal-neonatal health. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how three pivotal papers-Roux et al. (J Exp Med 146:1311-1322, 1977, https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.146.5.1311), Wilson and Butcher (J Exp Med 200:805-809, 2004, https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20041069), and Rogier et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 111:3074-3079, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1315792111)-made an impact on her by uncovering the critical pathways and mechanisms through which gut-derived IgA-secreting cells migrate to the mammary gland and secrete antibodies against intestinal microbes. These foundational studies shaped her understanding of the gut-mammary axis and continue to inspire her research aimed at advancing maternal and neonatal health through breast milk immunology.