Cellular immune responses of human milk T lymphocytes to certain environmental antigens
Parmely, M.J.; Reath, D.B.; Beer, A.E.; Billingham, R.E.
Transplantation Proceedings 9(2): 1477-1483
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-1345 PMID: 69346 Document Number: 114916
These experiments were to determine the differences between blood (BL) and milk (ML) lymphocytes in their responses to natural antigens. Preparations of cultured ML and BL were subjected to antigens of Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, tetanus toxoid, streptokinase, mumps, measles and tuberculin. Among the antigens those of C. albicans, tetanus and streptokinase induced proliferation and thymidine uptake in BL anbut not ML; mumps, measles and tuberculin antigens activated both BL and ML while E. coli antigens were specific for ML activation. The numbers of T-lymphocytes in blood and milk were similar. The majority of lymphocytes activated by antigens were T-cells and not B-cells.