Hawkes, J.Bryan, D.Gibson, R.2006-06-232006-06-232002Journal of Clinical Immunology, 2002; 22(6):338-3440271-91421573-2592http://hdl.handle.net/2440/7463Samples of milk (n=80) and venous blood were collected at 5 weeks postpartum from 82 lactating mothers. Human milk cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and the production of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the absence and presence of lipopolysaccharide was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Human milk cells spontaneously produced significantly less interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α than peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the absence of stimulation. In vitro stimulation of human milk cells with lipopolysaccharide (500 ng/ml) for 24 hr increased cytokine production by approximately 40–50%, whereas peripheral blood mononuclear cells responded to lipopolysaccharide (200 ng/ml) with increased cytokine production of up to 350%. These observations suggest that cells in milk are capable of active involvement in the production of the interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the mammary gland and have the capacity to respond to further stimulation after leaving the breast.en© Springer, Part of Springer Science+Business MediaHuman milkhuman milk cellsperipheral blood mononuclear cellsinterleukin-1βinterleukin-6tumor necrosis factor-αJournal article002002026110.1023/A:10206522150480001786492000032-s2.0-003684695860515Gibson, R. [0000-0002-8750-525X]