Effect of indomethacin on IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNFalpha production by mononuclear cells of preterm newborns and adults.

The in vitro effect of indomethacin (IM) on the production of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha by cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) from preterm newborns was compared to that of peripheral blood MC of adults (PBMC). MC isolated from peripheral blood of adults (PBMC) and cord blood of preterm newborns (CBMC) were incubated without or with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the absence or presence of various concentrations of IM. The levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNFalpha in the supernatants were tested by ELISA. MC isolated from preterm newborns were less sensitive to the in vitro effect of IM on IL-1beta and TNFalpha secretion than adult cells. While the spontaneous secretion of IL-1beta and TNFalpha and the production of TNFalpha induced by LPS were significantly increased following incubation of adult PBMC with IM, only the spontaneous synthesis of TNFalpha by CBMC of preterm newborns was affected by this drug. The in vitro production of IL-6 by MC in the two groups was not affected by the addition of IM. It is suggested that IM may affect the preterm's immune response. However, the role of the drug in the frequency and severity of infections in the neonatal intensive care unit needs further investigation.