Kinetics of MHC class II and transferrin receptor expression by colostral cells stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A and myelin basic protein.

The colostral cells, regarded generally as being protective, have been shown to differ in a number of membrane properties (rosetting, adherence, mobility) from the corresponding peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After in vitro stimulation with Con A or MBP 50% to 70% of the human colostral cells appeared HLA-DR positive at the first 24 h of culturing. The CD71 expression reached a maximum on culture days 2-3 coinciding with the maximal proliferative response. With regard to the phenotypic characteristics and their kinetics, the human colostral cells did not show significant differences from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells.