title: Soluble CD30 antigen in human colostrum.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Perugia University School Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertotto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vagliasindi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spinozzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castellucci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabietti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crupi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radicioni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cozzali
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niccoli
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lupi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merluzzi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guadalupi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parente
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pertici
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
mesh_terms: D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017730:Ki-1 Antigen