BACKGROUND: Although infection is a frequent and important cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period, evaluation of the immune system in cases of intrauterine infection is not easy. The subsets of T helper (Th) 1, which produce mainly interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and Th2, which produce interleukin (IL) -4, have been implicated in the regulation of many immune responses. In this study, we investigated Th1 and Th2 subsets in the cord blood (CB) to evaluate the role of CB T cells in the intrauterine infections. METHODS: We used an intracellular cytokine-staining technique with determination by flow cytometry to study IFN-gamma-producing T cells and IL-4-producing T cells in the CB of six neonates with perinatal intrauterine infection and 17 uninfected neonates. RESULTS: The CB from neonates with intrauterine infections had more IFN-gamma-producing CD3+T cells than that from uninfected neonates. The percentage of CB IFN-gamma-producing CD3+T cells in the infected neonates correlated with the duration of membrane rupture before the onset of labor, but not with the level of C-reactive protein. The infected neonate born after the longest duration of membrane rupture showed an increased percentage of IL-4-producing CD3+T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the increase of CB IFN-gamma and IL-4- producing T cells is part of the immune system directed against perinatal intrauterine infections.
BACKGROUND: Although infection is a frequent and important cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period, evaluation of the immune system in cases of intrauterine infection is not easy. The subsets of T helper (Th) 1, which produce mainly interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and Th2, which produce interleukin (IL) -4, have been implicated in the regulation of many immune responses. In this study, we investigated Th1 and Th2 subsets in the cord blood (CB) to evaluate the role of CB T cells in the intrauterine infections. METHODS: We used an intracellular cytokine-staining technique with determination by flow cytometry to study IFN-gamma-producing T cells and IL-4-producing T cells in the CB of six neonates with perinatal intrauterine infection and 17 uninfected neonates. RESULTS: The CB from neonates with intrauterine infections had more IFN-gamma-producing CD3+T cells than that from uninfected neonates. The percentage of CB IFN-gamma-producing CD3+T cells in the infected neonates correlated with the duration of membrane rupture before the onset of labor, but not with the level of C-reactive protein. The infected neonate born after the longest duration of membrane rupture showed an increased percentage of IL-4-producing CD3+T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the increase of CB IFN-gamma and IL-4- producing T cells is part of the immune system directed against perinatal intrauterine infections.
Authors: Philippe Leff-Gelman; Ismael Mancilla-Herrera; Mónica Flores-Ramos; Carlos Cruz-Fuentes; Juan Pablo Reyes-Grajeda; María Del Pilar García-Cuétara; Marielle Danitza Bugnot-Pérez; David Ellioth Pulido-Ascencio Journal: Neurosci Bull Date: 2016-07-18 Impact factor: 5.203
Authors: Poojitha Matta; Stacy D Sherrod; Christina C Marasco; Daniel J Moore; John A McLean; Joern-Hendrik Weitkamp Journal: J Immunol Date: 2017-09-25 Impact factor: 5.422
Authors: Jörn-Hendrik Weitkamp; Scott O Guthrie; Hector R Wong; Lyle L Moldawer; Henry V Baker; James L Wynn Journal: Early Hum Dev Date: 2016-06-16 Impact factor: 2.079
Authors: Agata Serwatowska-Bargieł; Maria Wąsik; Maria Katarzyna Kornacka; Elżbieta Górska; Robert Kozarski Journal: Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 4.291
Authors: Courtney M Jackson; Casey B Wells; Meredith E Tabangin; Jareen Meinzen-Derr; Alan H Jobe; Claire A Chougnet Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2016-11-04 Impact factor: 3.756
Authors: Susan L Prescott; David Martino; Megan Hodder; Tara Richman; Meri K Tulic Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2010-04-23 Impact factor: 4.084