Abstract
The protective effects of human milk leukocytes (HMLs) may be different from their counterparts in blood. Based upon observations including the limited microbiocidal activity of milk neutrophils and macrophages, we hypothesized that these cells protect by non-inflammatory mechanisms. That possibility was further tested by examining the response of HMLs to well defined chemotactic factors.
The adherence, orientation, and chemotaxis of unfractipnated washed HMLs to f-met-leu-phe (10−6−10−9M), f-met-phe (10−6−10−9M) and zymosan activated serum (ZAS) were compared to the responses of unfractionated peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). In contrast to PBLs, HMLs adhered poorly to glass, and both adherent and non-adherent HMLs failed to orient toward chemotaxins in Zigmond chambers. In sub-agarose and Boyden chamber studies, no chemotaxis of HMLs was observed, whereas the chemotaxis of PBLs was normal (ie. in subagarose plates: x S.D. with f-met-leu-phe, 1.1 ± 0.2mm; ZAS, 1.1 ± 0.4mm; p<0.01). We then tested whether leukocytes were inhibited by soluble colostral factors. PBLs in cell-free colostrum moved normally under agarose toward f-met-leu-phe or ZAS. Adherence of PBLs in colostrum was significantly decreased; this inhibition however was abrogated by reincubating the PBLs in tissue culture media.
Thus, the decreased response of HMLs to common chemotactic agents is further evidence that these leukocytes may be modified to protect by non-inflammatory mechanisms.
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Thorpe, L., Rudloff, H. & Goldman, A. 1033 THE DECREASED RESPONSE OF HUMAN MILK LEUKOCYTES TO CHEMOTACTIC FACTORS. Pediatr Res 19, 283 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01063
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01063