Phenotype and activation of milk‐derived and peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal and coeliac subjects

Abstract

Summary The phenotype of milk-derived and peripheral blood lymphoeytes from normal and coeliac subjects was assessed for CD3. aP-TcR (T cell receptor). yS-TcR. CD4. CD8. HML-I (human mucosal lymphocyte) determinants, and activation was measured by interleukin-2 receptor {1L-2R) expression. Milk cells from normal and coeliac subjects were analysed by manual immunofluoreseence and milk and blood cells from normal subjects were analysed by flow cytometry. Milk eells from two eoeliac subjects were tested for proliferation to gluten antigen. The CD4:CD8 ratio of milk lymphoeytes from both normal and eoeliac subjects was similar (0.78-1.1). but lower than that present in blood (1.5-2.1). The IL-2R expression of milk lymphocytes from both coeliac and normal subjeets was increased by 3-6 times eompared with peripheral blood eells. For example. IL-2R was present on 27.3% of milk CD3+ lymphocytes and on 8.0% of blood CD3+ lymphocytes from normal subjects. Y5-and HML-I+ T cells were inereased 4.2-fold and 12-fold respeetively compared with blood lymphocytes. Milk cells from coeliac subjects showed specific proliferation to gluten but not to soya bean antigen. We conclude that milk cells have a 'mucosal" phenotype. with increased Y5-TCR. CD8+ and HML-I+ T cells, and have an inereased proportion of aetivated eells. Milk eells from coeliae subjects have no 'toxic' phenotype. but show functional reactivity by speeific proliferation to gluten antigen.

Diminished Mammary Gland Lymphocyte Functions Parallel Shifts in Trafficking Patterns during the Postpartum Period

“…This directly contrasts with the CD4:CD8 ratio of cells obtained from blood and lymph node tissues, which was consistently > 1. This is similar to results observed in human milk where a higher proportion of CD8+ than CD4+ T lymphocytes are present compared with that of peripheral blood (8, 25). However, the functional significance for the elevated frequency of CD8+ over CD4+ lymphocytes in both milk and mammary tissue of humans and bovines has not been thoroughly defined.…”

“…During the postpartum period, decreased proliferation to T lymphocyte mitogens was observed in isolated lymphocytes from all three tissues. Similarly, reduced lymphocyte proliferation was reported for blood and lacteal mononuclear cells isolated from early lactation women (18,25). The relatively higher proportion of monocyte to lymphocyte populations in both humans (14) and bovines may partially explain the reduced proliferative responses to T lymphocyte mitogens during the postpartum period.…”

The Mammary Gland in Mucosal and Regional Immunity

“…The lymphocytes in milk are not representative of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) because there is a higher frequency of T cells (Duhamel et al, 1987;Le Jan, 1994;Taylor et al, 1994;Wei et al, 1986;Wirt et al, 1992, Table 2) and a lower CD4/CD8 ratio among α/β T cells (Asai et al, 1998;Eglinton et al, 1994;Gibson et al, 1991;Hyung et al, 1992;Le Jan, 1994;Wirt et al, 1992, Section II A3-5). Nevertheless, cells from blood enter the MG, can transit the alveolar epithelium, and enter the milk (Kumar et al, 1985).…”

Peanut allergens are rapidly transferred in human breast milk and can prevent sensitization in mice

“…Breast-feeding helps the maturation of the immune system through the transfer of immune cells, growth factors, and immunomodulatory and immunostimulatory cytokines (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Breast milk can also prevent infections due to the presence of maternal secretory IgA specific to pathogens to which the mother and consequently the neonate are exposed.…”