Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) within cord blood sera may be partially responsible for the reduced proliferation of cord blood T cells.
We show that there are differences in the soluble factors in cord blood (CB) and adult serum and that these differences play a role in T cell function. Thus, the mitogen and alloantigen-specific proliferative response of adult T cells was enhanced with increasing concentrations of adult serum and CB serum, but to a lesser extent with CB serum. In addition, proliferation of T cells induced by stimulation through the T cell receptor alone (via CD3 stimulation), could be enhanced with adult but not CB serum. However, CB serum enhanced the IL-2-specific proliferative response of pure T cells whereas adult serum did not. To determine whether there was an anti-inflammatory cytokine within CB serum which could induce these results, we assayed our serum samples for anti-inflammatory cytokines. IL-13 could not be detected in any serum sample, whereas IL-10 could be detected in adult but not CB serum (P < 0.002). However, there was a significant difference in the levels of macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) detected in adult and CB serum samples (P < 0.01). M-CSF was detected in 6/7 CB serum samples (mean +/- SD was 3.8 +/- 2.3 ng/ml) and 0/5 adult serum samples. Furthermore, anti-M-CSF antibody restored the reduced allo-response of T cells incubated in CB serum. Thus, M-CSF may act as a suppressor factor in CB serum. Whether this is sufficient to explain the lack of an allo-response by the foetus to the mother, or the reduced graft-versus-host disease when CB is used instead of bone marrow in stem cell transplantation, is yet to be determined.
Cohen
S B
SB
The Anthony Nolan Research Institute, The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK. sharacohen@ukcbig.org
Woolley
J
J
Bogunia-Kubik
K
K
Natarajan
P
P
Kotecha
R
R
Belaramani
L
L
Fallen
P R
PR
Perez-Cruz
I
I
Madrigal
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007519:Isoantigens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor