Abstract
The breast milk macrophage(MΦ)has been reported to release stored IgA over time.To determine the kinetics of immunoglobulin release,separate aliquots of MΦ from 9 healthy mothers were cultured serially for 7 days.Each culture contained 2×106MΦ suspended in 1 ml of media.The release of IgA into the media was quantitated using double antibody radioimmunoassays.To determine total cellular IgA at 0 time and 7 days,MΦ cultures were sonicated and ultracentrifuged.The cell pellet obtained was separated from the supernatant and resuspended in a volume of fresh media equal to the supernatant.These two solutions were then assayed for IgA content.Mean ±SEM IgA released into culture media after 0,3 & 7 days was 0.45±0.2,24.6±15.5,and 29.7±19 μg/ml.The mean ±SEM IgA measured in the sonicate pellet and sonicate supernatant at 0 time was 24.7±16.7 and 24.5±13.2 μg/ml as compared to 12.5±11 and 11.4±0.9μg/ml measured in the sonicate pellet and sonicate supernatant after 7 days incubation.The immunoglobulin released(y)per day(x)can be determined from the equation:
These data indicate that >80% of stored IgA is released by day 3 and the total content of IgA at 7 days can be accounted for at 0 time.Although it appears that the MΦ does not synthesize IgA, because of its reported tolerance for a wide range of pH and osmolality, the cell may play an important role in the transfer of passive immunity from a mother to her newborn.
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Mcclead, R., Pittard, W. 713 KINETICS OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN RELEASE BY THE BREAST MILK MACROPHAGE. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 482 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00718
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00718