Differential development of type 1 and type 2 cytokines and beta-chemokines in the ontogeny of healthy newborns.
Interleukin (IL)-2, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma; type 1 cytokines), IL-4, and IL-10 (type 2 cytokines), and beta-chemokines (MIP-1alpha and RANTES) production by cord blood lymphocytes (CBL) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of newborns was analyzed in a cross-sectional study to examine the maturation of these components of the immune response. Immunophenotyping was performed on the same specimens. Results showed that the CD4/CD8 ratio remains stable, the percentage of natural killer cells decreases, and the number and percentage of B cells increase after birth. Analysis of cytokine production suggested that the production of all cytokines increases gradually and steadily after birth, and that IFN-gamma and IL-10 production is reduced at birth whereas IL-2 and IL-4 production is not. Finally, mitogen-stimulated beta-chemokine production was present at birth and increased slightly but significantly with age. These data indicate that a differential functional maturation of immune response after birth favoring a more precocious development of IL-2 (a type 1 cytokine) is present and should help to analyze the ontogeny of the immune system.
Vigano
A
A
Cattedra di Pediatria IV, Università degli Studi di Milano, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Milano, Italy.
Esposito
S
S
Arienti
D
D
Zagliani
A
A
Massironi
E
E
Principi
N
N
Clerici
M
M
D000375:Aging; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018925:Chemokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma