Immunologic aspects of human colostrum and milk. I. Distribution characteristics and concentrations of immunoglobulins at different times after the onset of lactation.

Human colostrum and milk collected at different times after the onset of lactation from 200 subjects were tested for the levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM classes of immunoglobulins. The technique of radial immunodiffusion was employed. The levels of IgG immunoglobulin ranged from 1.4 to 4.9 mg/gm of protein at different intervals after onset of lactation. No significant change was observed in the individual levels of IgG over 180 days of sequential testing. On the other hand, highest levels of IgM and IgA immunoglobulins in the colostrum and milk were observed during the first three to four days postpartum. The IgM levels ranged from 27 to 30 mg/gm protein and IgA levels, from 22 to 35 mg/gm protein. A 3- to 4-fold decline in the levels of IgM and IgA immunoglobulin was demonstrated in milk samples collected 15 to 180 days postpartum. These observations provide reference data on the levels of immunoglobulins in colostrum and milk at different stages of lactation.

Immunologic aspects of human colostrum and milk. III. Fate and absorption of cellular and soluble components in the gastrointestinal tract of the newborn.

A group of formula-fed infants were administered a single feed of poliovirus IgA antibody-rich human colostrum 18 to 72 hr after birth. Subsequently, the presence of IgG, IgA, and IgM immunoglobulin and poliovirus antibody activity was determined in serial serum and fecal samples of the neonates. Absorption of IgA immunoglobulin from the colostrum to the circulation was observed in three infants who were fed with colostrum between 18 and 24 hr after birth. Another group of infants of tuberculin-positive mothers who were being breast fed by their own mothers were followed for the development of in vitro correlates of cell-mediated immunity against tuberculin after prolonged breast feeding. Tuberculin-specific proliferative response was observed in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of two neonates after 5 weeks of breast feeding. The responses were undetectable after 12 weeks, although the infants continued to breast feed. No tuberculin reactivity was observed in the cord lymphocytes. These observations suggest uptake of IgA immunoglobulin and components of cellular immunity in the intestine during the immediate neonatal period.

Secretory component and sudden-infant-death syndrome.

Post-mortem specimens of blood, respiratory-tract washings, bronchopulmonary tissue, spleen, and thymus were examined for respiratory viruses, immunoglobulins, and secretory component (S.C.) in eight infants with sudden-infant-death syndrome (S.I.D.S) and in eight other (control) infants with an identifiable cause of death. Serum-immunoglobulin levels were similar in infants with S.I.D.S. and in control infants. In some S.I.D.S. cases serum-IgM was slightly raised. Respiratory syncytial virus was found in the pulmonary tissues of five S.I.D.S. patients but no viruses were isolated from other subjects. However, in one control subject parainfluenza type-3 viral antigen was detected in the bronchial tissue. In all patients with S.I.D.S., immunological reactions and fluorescent antibody staining for S.C. in the broncho-pulmonary epithelium were absent or grossly reduced. The levels of IgG and IgM in bronchial washings were unremarkable. These observations suggest a possible defect in respiratory mucosal defence in patients with S.I.D.S.

Rubella-virus infection in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Antibody activity against mumps, measles, polio, and rubella viruses was determined in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (J.R.A.), rubella-vaccine associated arthritis, adult rheumatoid arthritis, other chronic systemic disorders (e.g., systemic lupus and dermatomyositis), and in a matched population of normal, non-rheumatoid (control) children. The antibody levels against mumps, measles, and poliovirus were similar in all patients. Rubella-antibody levels in rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic disorders were similar to those observed in controls. The mean rubella-antibody levels in rubella-vaccine arthritis were 4 times higher than in controls. The IgM and IgG rubella-antibody levels in J.R.A. were found to be 4-6 times higher when compared to titres observed in the controls. Highest antibody levels were seen in younger children with J.R.A. Detection of rubella-virus antigen was attempted by immunofluorescence in the sediment smears of synovial fluid of patients with J.R.A., adult rheumatoid arthritis, and other non-rheumatoid joint diseases. Specific staining for rubella virus antigen was observed in the synovial fluid of 33 percent of patients with J.R.A. No antigen was detected in the synovial fluid from other patients. These observations suggest a possible role of rubella-virus infection in J.R.A.

Prostaglandins in the human fallopian tube.

PIP: The concentration of prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha in human oviductal fluid was determined, and the histological localization of PGF2 alpha was correlated with the menstrual cycle to illuminate possible roles of oviductal PGF2 alpha in human luteolysis. Human oviductal fluid was collected preovulatorily, ovulatorily, and postovulatorily. PGF2 alpha was radioimmunoassayed and it was found that the levels in oviductal fluid were higher (5-7.1 ng/ml) than those normally found circulating in serum (5 ng/ml, but these authors did not test sera for PGF2 alpha levels). Using immunofluorescence of biopsy material from patients undergoing elective tubal ligations, PGF2 alpha could be histologically localized in the human oviductal mucosal surface before ovulation; after ovulation, the PG was found in oviductal lamina propria, but no PHF2 alpha was found in any portion of a postpartum or postmenopausal oviduct in this study.^ieng

Immunosuppressive activity of mouse amniotic fluid.

PIP: Immunosuppressive activity of mouse amniotic fluid was investigated. Swiss mice were treated from birth through young adulthood with intraperitoneal injections of homologous mouse amniotic fluid. A marked suppression of the primary splenic plaque-forming cells antibody response to sheep red blood cells was demonstrated. A pronounced suppressive effect by amniotic fluid was noted on the gamma A and gamma G plaque-forming cells, with variable degrees of immunosuppression observed on the gamma M response. It is postulated that the immunosuppressive effect of amniotic fluid may be related to its alpha-fetoprotein content.^ieng

Local antibody response to experimental poliovirus infection in the central nervous system of rhesus monkeys.

By employing the techniques of immunofluorescence and radioimmunodiffusion using (32)P-labeled poliovirus as the antigen, the immunoglobulin response to poliovirus in serum, nasopharynx, spinal fluid, and in different segments of the central nervous system (CNS) was studied after intramuscular, oral, intranasal, and intrathalamic administration of inactivated (Salk), live attenuated (Sabin), or live virulent (Mahoney) type I poliovirus. Spinal fluid gammaG antibody was detected after immunization with Sabin or Mahoney virus and intramuscular administration of Salk vaccine. The response in the CNS was characterized by the appearance of gammaG antibody after oral or intrathalamic administration of Mahoney virus and rarely after intrathalamic inoculation of Sabin vaccine. The antibody activity in CNS was limited to the areas of poliovirus replication. Intrathalamic immunization with Mahoney virus resulted in local gammaG antibody production in the CNS in the absence of any detectable response in serum. Discrete foci of gammaG-containing cells were observed in those areas of CNS which contained poliovirus antibody. No immunoglobulin-containing cells or poliovirus antibody was seen in the CNS of monkeys immunized with intramuscularly or orally administered Sabin or Salk vaccine and in sham-immunized control monkeys. It is suggested that the CNS, when stimulated locally with a potent replicating viral antigen, may manifest a specific local antibody response, which is independent of the response in serum.

The loop, age 7 with five significant years of observation.

PIP: In a 5 year study of 32,137 women months of loop "D", the major reasons for discontinuance of its use have been bleeding and/or pain, and expulsions. The longer a patient wears a loop, the less likely is expulsion, bleeding and/or pain. There is no evidence that the loop is responsible for causing any cancers. Acceptance rates are over 40% at the author's Planned Parenthood clinic. After 5 years, over 56% of patients continued using loop "D". In terms of effectiveness, pregnancy rates averaged less than 1% a year. Experience with loop "C" has not been as good as with loop "D".^ieng