Abstract
The suggestion of fewer viral infections in breast fed infants has raised the possibility of a role for colostral lymphocytes (COL) in the transfer of viral cell mediated immunity (CMI) via breast feeding. In vitro lymphocyte stimulation (LT) assay with influenza antigens was used to assess CMI. We studied 14 healthy mother-infant pairs 1-6 days after delivery and 8 pairs were followed up 1-4 months later. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and COL were tested for LT using ether extracted influenza antigens (A/Tex, A/Brazil, and B/Hong Kong). Lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA was confirmed. A pos. influenza response was defined as a stimulation ratio ≥2.0. After delivery 12/14 PBL from mothers and 5/13 COL were pos. to one or more influenza antigens; at follow-up 8/8 maternal PBL were pos. After delivery 7/14 infant PBL were pos. and of 8 infants not yet breast fed, 5 were pos. At follow-up 3/8 infants were pos., all 3 of whom had been negative after delivery. No respiratory infections were recognized in any of the study infants. CMI to influenza was demonstrated in many maternal PBL and COL samples after delivery and in all PBL at follow-up. While 3 infants acquired CMI to influenza after breast feeding, 5 infants had CMI after delivery and prior to breast feeding. These studies suggest that breast feeding may confer CMI to the infant but also imply that another maternal mechanism for an earlier acquisition of CMI exists.
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Holzman, I., Ruben, F., Brackett, R. et al. 1029 EXPRESSION OF CELL MEDIATED IMMUNITY TO INFLUENZA IN BREAST FED INFANTS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 614 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01055
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01055