I was under the impression that a form of the protein albumin ( although different than the form in blood) a protein found in blood is in a mother's breast milk. I don't believe that white cells are.

It might help to ask a medical professional or someone who would know for sure but I am leaning towards saying that this isn't true.

Human breast milk does indeed contain certain white blood cells. These can help to pass on disease-fighting capacity to the nursing infant. It seems however that these white blood cells, or leukocytes, come from the mother's lymphatic system rather than directly from her blood stream (the breasts are richly supplied with lymph vessels). Though clearly identifiable as leukocytes, they appear to have somewhat differing morphology and motility from the ones found in the blood stream.

Here is a quote from the article "How Breastmilk Protects Newborns" by Jack Newman MD Breastfeeding Articles by Dr. Jack Newman - Breastfeeding Online:

"As is true of defensive molecules, immune cells are abundant in human milk. They consist of white blood cells, or leukocytes, that fight infection themselves and activate other defense mechanisms. The most impressive amount is found in colostrum. Most of the cells are neutrophils, a type of phagocyte that normally circulates in the bloodstream. Some evidence suggests that neutrophils continue to act as phagocytes in the infant's gut. Yet they are less aggressive than blood neutrophils and virtually disappear from breast milk six weeks after birth. So perhaps they serve some other function, such as protecting the breast from infection.

"The next most common milk leukocyte is the macrophage, which is phagocytic like neutrophils and performs a number of other protective functions. Macrophages make up some 40 percent of all the leukocytes in colostrum. They are far more active than milk neutrophils, and recent experiments suggest that they are more motile than are their counterparts in blood. Aside from being phagocytic, the macrophages in breast milk manufacture lysozyme, increasing its amount in the infant's gastrointestinal tract. Lysozyme is an enzyme that destroys bacteria by disrupting their cell walls.

"In addition, macrophages in the digestive tract can rally lymphocytes into action against invaders. Lymphocytes constitute the remaining 10 percent of white cells in the milk. About 20 percent of these cells are B lymphocytes, which give rise to antibodies; the rest are T lymphocytes, which kill infected cells directly or send out chemical messages that mobilize still other components of the immune system. Milk lymphocytes seem to behave differently from blood lymphocytes. Those in milk, for example, proliferate in the presence of Escherichia coli, a bacterium that can cause life-threatening illness in babies, but they are far less responsive than blood lymphocytes to agents posing less threat to infants. Milk lymphocytes also manufacture several chemicals-including gamma-interferon, migration inhibition factor and monocyte chemotactic factor-that can strengthen an infant's own immune response."


So the leukocytes in mother's milk would appear to be specialized for the particular job they have to do in the baby's immune system. Originating in the lymph vessels, they are evidently separate and distinct from those circulating in the mother's blood vessels.

Hello,

as I know about the ingredients of the mother´s breast milk it contains not the whole white cell, but components.

In breast milk, many immune cells and antibodies are included, to strengthen the immune system of infants and protect against infections. Besides macrophages, breast milk also contains lymphocytes. They improve the immune system. The information contained in breast milk antibodies protect the infant against further infections, for example, prior respiratory disease, Haemophilus influenza or a cold of the mother. A special group of antibodies formed in the mucous membranes in the intestine of the infant, and a protective layer against invading bacteria and toxins and promotes the body's own antibody production. Several other components of human milk protect the gastrointestinal tract and diarrhea before bending.

The mother´s breast milk contains macrophages and lymphocytes, that mean parts of the Leucocytes.
Leucocytes contains of about 60 % granulocytes, 30 % lymphocytes and about 6% monocyte ( look here for macrophage).

That means that fractions and not the whole white blood cell is transported from the mother to the child.

And JW do not refuse fractions. It´s a matter of conscience.

All the best.

Waldemar

thanks for the info, it will help me.

Hello again,

I will try to explain it a little bit more what I mean. This is only an addition not a new statement.

As everybody here in this forum knows, the whole blood exists of four main components:
plasma, erythrocytes, leucocytes and thrombocytes. JW refuse to get one ore more of this main components or the whole blood for a transfusion.

This four main components can be subdivided in subcomponents: erytrocytfractions, leucocytefractions, thrombofractions and plasmafraction.

Plasma for example includes water (more than 90%), albumin (4%), glubolin (3%) fibrinogen(1%), etc.
Erythrocytes: hemoglobin, hämin, etc.
Thrombocytes ...

leucocytes: neutrophil granulocytes (50 bis 80%)
* eosinophil granulocytes (2-4%)
* basophile granulocytes (0,5-1%)
* monocytes (2-8 %)
* lymphocytes (25- 40 %)

It ´s a matter of their conscience if JW refuse to get fractions or if they allow to get them transfused. Some say no, others say yes.


The question now is: are all the components of the white cell, like neutrophil granulocytes or basophile granulocytes autonomous parts like the erythrocytes as collectivity, or are they "only"components of the white cell and all together are the leucocyte?

In my opinion like for example the hemoglobin alone is not the red blood cell, but only a part of it, so are the neutrophil granulocytes or the basophil granulocytes not the white cell but belongs to the whole part.

On the other side it is interesting to see that for example the neutrophil granulocytes stay only 6-8 hours in the blood circuit - then they disappear to the surface of the mucous membrane. Could they be there still main components of the blood? They do separate from the blood and do "lead a own life", but not in the blood any more. Interesting things are going on in the body.

If all the parts of the leucocytes are autonomous main blood products, that means they are all main components of the whole blood, the question would be legitimate why a main component of the blood is transfused from a mother to a child. But as an embryo do not get the whole blood from the mother, but fractions (also parts of white cells) to stabilize the immunity, so in the mother´s milk the baby gets important components to continue to build up the immunity of the child.

If my statement needs a correction feel free to advice me.
It is worse to think to be right, but being wrong.

Sorry for my English. I know that I need an improvement. But in german I probably could try to explain it easier.

Waldemar

Thoughtful question that you were posed. Interesting observations by Informaticus & Dr. Waldemar.

I suppose you might reply that JW's don't accept red cells, but look at a piece of hamburger under a microscope and guess what -- red cells! JW's may consume meat from animals that have been bled properly, but some rbc's & wbc's & platelets will still be in there.

So human milk, like a steak or like a bone marrow transplant, may contain some blood cells. That's an undisputed medical fact. But scriptures make a distinction between whole blood and these other body fluids or body parts. And some JW's may breast feed their babies, some may eat meat, and some may take a BMT.

__________________
Joseph T. Malak, MD

I found the question interesting and the medical information supplied by Informaticus and Waldemar fascinating. For me at any rate, the information is just further compelling evidence of purposeful design by a Creator.

Regarding the specific question raised, Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept transfusions of white cells because white cells like red cells, platelets and plasma are primary components of blood. From a Biblical perspective, there are clear Bible guidelines regarding the use of blood. Furthermore, transfusion is not a process that takes place naturally. However, by way of contrast the transfer of white cells from mother to infant via breast milk occurs completely naturally without any human intervention.

Additionally, when God gave the first recorded command regarding blood to Noah and his family at Genesis 9:3-6, God would have been fully aware of the transfer of white cells from mother to infant via breast milk. He did not forbid breast-feeding. Similarly, when the apostles issued a similar injunction at Acts 15:28, 29 they did so under the direction of God's holy spirit. Again God saw fit to exclude any prohibition against breast milk while at the same time emphasizing the sanctity of blood as originally stated in Genesis. Therefore, it would seem that the process he designed has his blessing.