Impaired interferon-alpha enhancement of neonatal monocyte phagocytosis.
Monocyte phagocytic activity was tested in 10 healthy term newborns using a latex phagocytic assay. The baseline phagocytic activity in the cord blood monocytes (37.7 +/- 3.8%) was comparable to adult controls (38.5 +/- 9.4%). When enhanced with 1,000 U/ml of alpha-interferon, the phagocytic activity was lower in cord blood monocytes (40.5 +/- 3.4%) than in the adult controls (47.9 +/- 10.6%), but this difference reached statistical significance only when the cord blood monocytes were enhanced with 2,000 U/ml reaching 43.6 +/- 4.3% in cord blood monocytes, as compared to 54.6 +/- 9.6% in adult controls. These findings may explain an inherent functional deficiency in the neonatal mononuclear phagocytic system which may not be evident during the quiescent phase of monocyte/macrophage activity, but may become apparent during an infectious challenge.
el-Mohandes
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AE
Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
Brudno
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DS
Ahronovich
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MD
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*
D007370:Interferon Type I