Variation in immunophenotype of lactating mice

Immunological factors have been shown to play a crucial role in mammary remodelling in rodent models of lactation, particularly at the stage of mammary involution. However, the relationship between immunological factors and the ability of normal mammary gland to produce milk, as well as the genetic components contributing to lactation performance remain largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the lactation and immunological phenotypes of 11 inbred mouse strains, namely 129X1/SvJ (129), A/J, AKR, C3H/HeJ (C3H), CBA/CaH (CBA), C57BL/6J (C57), DBA/1J, DBA/2J, FVB/N (FVB), QSi5 and SJL/J (SJL) to identify potential links. Leukocyte analyses showed no direct link between the fraction of splenic leukocytes and lactation performance. However, significant strain differences were discovered in the fraction of CD8+ T lymphocytes (P = 0.016) and CD11b+Gr-1 mid-low monocytes (P < 0.001). Cytokine profiles in plasma were examined and a subset of plasma cytokines, namely CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CSF2, CSF3, IL10, IL15, IL1B, IL4, IL5, IL7 and TNF, were fitted to a linear regression model for prediction of lactation performance (R-sq = 62%, S = 0.309). Significant strain differences in the plasma cytokine levels were also discovered amongst these inbred strains. Analysis of immunological phenotypes showed strong correlations between splenic immune cell subsets and their regulating cytokine levels in plasma. The results demonstrate the extent of genetic variability in the immunological phenotypes of lactating mice, and provide a basis for understanding the role of cytokines in milk production, and identifying potential biomarkers of lactation performance.