Human Breast Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in the Protection Against Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of death in premature infants. Breast feeding decreases the incidence of NEC but, even with aggressive promotion of nursing in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, morbidity and mortality remain high. Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) purified from mouse and rat stem cells can protect the intestines from NEC. The aim of this study was to determine whether human breast milk (BM)-derived EVs could prevent NEC.