title: Granulocyte and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors in cord and maternal serum at delivery.
abstract: Impaired neutrophil responses contribute to the neonate's increased susceptibility to infection. Because granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) enhance granulocyte and macrophage number and function, their use in the management of neonatal sepsis may be beneficial. Little is known about the endogenous levels of G-CSF and GM-CSF. In adults, raised values for G-CSF, but not GM-CSF, have been demonstrated in patients with infection, and conflicting data has emerged regarding CSF levels in neonates. We have used an ELISA to measure maternal and cord serum G-CSF and GM-CSF at the time of delivery, with gestational age between 25 and 42 wk. In mothers, an inverse linear relationship between gestational age and GM-CSF levels (p = 0.049) was found, but no association with G-CSF levels was observed. In neonates, a quadratic association was found between GM-CSF levels and gestational age (p = 0.019), whereas G-CSF levels showed an inverse linear association (p = 0.015). In addition, an association was found between maternal and cord GM-CSF (p = 0.007) but not G-CSF levels in paired samples. The effect of gestational age on the cytokine levels could not be explained by the white cell count, the absolute neutrophil count, pregnancy-induced hypertension, or the presence of infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Queen's University of Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bailie
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bridges
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: McClure
mesh_terms: D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor