Abstract
Transfer of tuberculin immunity via the placenta or human milk has been proposed. We examined lymphocytes from infants of tuberculin positive and negative mothers using blastogenesis and lymphokine assays to document this transfer of immunity. A stimulation index ≥ 2.8 was considered a positive blastogenic response to PPD.
Lymphocytes from infants 4-6 weeks of age were cultured with PPD and culture supernatants were assayed for monocyte chemotactic activity using adult monocytes and 5 μm Nuclepore filters in blind well chambers. A Δ migrating monocytes/oil field ≥ 15 was a positive response. 6/22 (27%) infants of PPD positive mothers (5/14 breast feeding, 1/8 bottle feeding) but no infant of a PPD negative mother (0/11) produced monocyte chemotactic factor. These lymphokine data support the blastogenesis data suggesting possible enhanced immunity in the breast feeding infant but also transplacental transfer of tuberculin immunity.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Keller, M., Rodriguez, A., Mohandas, T. et al. 998 TRANSFER OF TUBERCULIN IMMUNITY FROM MOTHER TO INFANT. Pediatr Res 19, 277 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01028
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01028