Soluble CD30 antigen in human colostrum
A Bertotto1, C Vagliasindi, R Gerli
1Department of Paediatrics, Perugia University School Medicine, Italy.
Insights
High levels of soluble CD30 (sCD30) were detected in colostrum, suggesting CD30+ T cells play a role in mammary gland immunity during lactation. This finding offers insights into immune support for newborns via breast milk.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- CD30 is a surface antigen on activated T cells, historically linked to T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokine production.
- Emerging evidence indicates CD30 expression is broader, also found on activated T cells with Th1 and Th0 cytokine profiles.
- Activated T cells expressing CD30 release a soluble form, sCD30, detectable in vitro and in vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and levels of soluble CD30 (sCD30) in human colostrum.
- To explore the potential role of CD30+ T cells in the immunological processes of the mammary gland during pregnancy and lactation.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of sCD30 levels in colostrum samples from puerperal women.
- Comparison of sCD30 levels in colostrum with matched blood samples from the same women.
- Analysis of sCD30 levels in blood samples from non-pregnant women as a control.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated levels of sCD30 were detected in colostrum samples from 20 puerperal women.
- sCD30 was not detected in the autologous blood samples of these women.
- sCD30 was also absent in blood samples from heterologous non-pregnant women.
Conclusions:
- The high concentration of sCD30 in colostrum strongly suggests the involvement of CD30+ T cells in mammary gland immunity.
- These findings support a role for CD30+ T cells in providing immunological benefits to newborns through breast milk.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which T cells contribute to the immunological support of newborns.
Abstract:
It is now well established that the CD30 glycoprotein is a surface antigen expressed by activated T cells producing T-helper (Th)-2-type lymphokines. Mounting laboratory evidence, however, suggests that CD30 expression is not confined to a functionally restricted subset of T cells, but also identifies activated cells with a Th-1 and Th-0 pattern of cytokine secretion. CD30-bearing T lymphocytes release a soluble form of the molecule (sCD30), which can be detected both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, very high levels of sCD30 were found in colostrum from 20 puerperal women, but not in autologous and heterologous (nonpregnant women) blood samples. These data strongly support an involvement of CD30+ T cells in the immune processes which take place at the level of the mammary gland during pregnancy and lactation. Passively transferred immune components such as immunoglobulins, cytokines, macrophages, natural killer cells, granulocytes and memory/activated T cells, all of which may help the baby to fight off infections, have been revealed in human breast milk. However, how Th-2-type cytokine-secreting T cells or other T-cell types help to endow the congenitally immunocompromised newborn infant with extrinsic immunological support remains an open question.
