title: Association of decreased natural and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and production of natural killer cytotoxic factor and interferon in neonates.
abstract: Cord blood lymphocytes (CBL) were compared with adult peripheral blood lymphocytes (a-PBL) for their: (i) natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxic (ADCC) activities, (ii) target-binding capacity, (iii) ability to induce soluble natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF), (iv) interferon (IFN)-, interleukin 2 (IL-2)-, and lectin-induced augmentation of NK activity, and (v) ability to produce IFN against tumor targets in vitro. CBL depleted of adherent cells and Percoll-separated, NK-enriched subpopulations demonstrated significantly lower NK, ADCC, and target-binding activities compared to a-PBL. CBL produced significantly lower levels of NKCF directed against K562 tumor targets in comparison with a-PBL. Although the NK activity of CBL was not stimulated by either IFN or IL-2 to the same levels shown by a-PBL, the percentage enhancement of cytotoxicity of CBL by IFN and IL-2 was greater than that of a-PBL. Lectin-induced enhancement of cytotoxicity was significantly greater for CBL in comparison with a-PBL. Further, the ability of CBL lymphocytes to produce IFN-gamma in vitro against K562 target cells was significantly lower than that of adult PBL. These studies suggest an association between decreased NK, ADCC, and target-binding activities, induction of NKCF and IFN production by CBL, and increased susceptibility of neonates to infection.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D037102:Lectins; D011506:Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma