T Cell Populations and Cytokine Expression in Milk Derived from Normal and Bacteria-Infected Bovine Mammary Glands

Abstract This study investigated the effect of naturally acquired bacterial infection of the bovine mammary gland on subpopulations of T lymphocytes and cytokine expression in milk. Twenty-nine lactating cows with mastitis were compared to 12 normal animals. CD4 + lymphocytes represented a significantly greater percentage of the milk-derived lymphocytes in infected mammary glands compared to normal controls. Cytokine mRNA expression by cells derived from milk was investigated using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). No IL-2 or IL-4 mRNA was detected in any samples, while IFN-γ mRNA was detected in all milk samples. IL-10 mRNA was detected in cells from the milk of 2 mastitic cows and 1 normal cow, and IL-12 mRNA was detected in 2 cows with mastitis. While TNF-α mRNA was not detected in this study, IL-6 mRNA was identified in cells from the milk of all animals, with levels being greater in mastitic animals.