title: Evidence for a suppression of apoptosis in early postnatal life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In fetal life the rates of proliferation and apoptosis are high. We studied if the rate of apoptosis decreases after birth, by measuring the soluble (s) forms of Fas-Fas ligand and Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1)-TNF-alpha which attenuate apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was drawn from the umbilical cord and from a peripheral vein on day 1 and 4 of life in 35 infants and sFas, sFas ligand, sTNFR1 and sTNF-alpha were determined by enzyme immunoassays. Data were analyzed by paired t-test and Pearson's correlation analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  sFas and sTNF increased significantly from birth to day 4 of life (p=0.033 and p<0.0001 respectively), while sTNFR1 increased significantly from birth to day 1 of life (p<0.0001) followed by a significant decrease on day 4 of life (p<0.0001). The levels of sFas and sTNF-alpha on day 1 correlated with those on day 4 (r=0.677, p<0.0002 and r=0.525, p<0.007 respectively). sFAS ligand was not detectable in any specimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increasing concentrations of the soluble molecules, sFas, sTNF-alpha and sTNFR1 might indicate that apoptosis may be downregulated in early postnatal life.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Division, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Soultani 19, Aretaieion Hospital, GR-10682 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malamitsi-Puchner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarandakou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tziotis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trikka
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019014:fas Receptor