Can expression of CD45RO, a T-cell surface molecule, be used to detect congenital infection?
Exclusion or confirmation of congenital infection can be difficult in newborn infants. The presence of an infective organism in a fetus leads to activation of fetal T lymphocytes. We have examined expression of isoforms of a T-cell surface molecule, CD45RO, in 119 infants, 8 of whom had an intrauterine infection diagnosed antenatally. CD45RO was expressed on fewer than 10% of T cells in control infants and on more than 17% of T cells from infants with known infection (p < 0.006). This method allows screening of infants for infection by a range of organisms as a cause of their infection.
Michie
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Department of Paediatrics and Neonatal Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, UK.
Harvey
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D
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens