CD4+IL13+ T lymphocytes at birth and the development of wheezing and/or asthma during the 1st year of life.
BACKGROUND
Despite our knowledge that maternal inheritance influences the development of asthma in childhood, attempts to identify a clear-cut Th2-oriented cytokine production by T lymphocytes at birth have given conflicting results. The prognostic significance of these cells for asthma development later in life remains to be determined.


METHODS
We evaluated at the single cell level Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in 208 randomly selected cord blood mononuclear cell (CBMC) samples obtained from pregnant women (group A, n = 68 with diagnosed respiratory allergic disease; group B, n = 140, with no evidence of atopy), and prospectively followed newborns for 1 year.


RESULTS
There was no difference in IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5 production at birth between both groups, whereas a correlation between CD4+IL13+ lymphocytes from CBMC samples derived from atopic mothers and the occurrence of wheezing and/or asthma during the 1st year of life was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observations suggest that the intracellular cytokine profile of cord blood CD4+ cells, in terms of IL-13 production, could be considered a useful tool for a more accurate identification of newborns from atopic mothers who are at high risk of developing asthma.
Spinozzi
F
F
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy. spinozzi@unipg.it
Agea
E
E
Russano
A
A
Bistoni
O
O
Minelli
L
L
Bologni
D
D
Bertotto
A
A
de Benedictis
F M
FM
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13