Abstract
Human milk and colostrum are known to contain significant amounts of cellular and humoral protective factors. Since post partum transmission of HIV can occur through breast milk, it has been postulated that the transmission could be favoured by infected cells or by deficiency of anti-infective substances in breast milk. In the present study, we investigated cellular and humoral immune factors in colostrum of HIV seronegative (Control Group) and seropositive lactating mothers (Study Group). Colostrum was collected from 130 asymptomatic women, 62 HIV seropositives (study group) and 68 HIV seronegatives (control group). Fifteen ml. colostrum was collected in sterile siliconised glass test tubes, and leukocytes were isolated for cellular studies by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. The results of cellular factors are in the table at the bottom. There was a statistically significant decrease in the phagocytic activity of macrophages and “T” cell number (p < 0.001)
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