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Lymphocytes bearing the T cell receptor gamma delta in human breast milk

A Bertotto1, G Castellucci, G Fabietti

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Perugia University Medical School, Italy.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|November 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Human breast milk contains a higher proportion of T cell receptor gamma delta (TCR-gamma delta) lymphocytes compared to blood. Further research is needed to understand their role in immune transmission during lactation.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • T lymphocytes play a crucial role in cellular immunity.
  • T cell receptor gamma delta (TCR-gamma delta) represents a distinct subset of T lymphocytes.
  • Human milk is a source of immune factors transferred to infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and proportion of TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes in human colostrum.
  • To compare the frequency of TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes in colostrum versus blood.

Main Methods:

  • Two-color flow cytometry was employed for cell analysis.
  • Lymphocyte suspensions from human colostrum and blood samples were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • The proportion of TCR-gamma delta+ cells was found to be twofold higher in colostrum compared to autologous and heterologous blood samples.
  • This indicates a significant enrichment of this lymphocyte subset in early milk.

Conclusions:

  • Human colostrum harbors a higher frequency of TCR-gamma delta lymphocytes than peripheral blood.
  • The functional significance of this elevated subset in milk requires further investigation, particularly regarding its potential role in lactation-mediated cellular immunity.

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