High IL-13 production by human neonatal T cells: neonate immune system regulator?
Neonates are highly susceptible to diseases and display biased type 2 immune responses, although no skewing to type 2 cytokines has been reported. In view of the emerging importance of IL-13 in type 2 inflammatory responses and clinical allergy, we analyzed IL-13 production by neonatal T cells. We found that, mainly CD8 T cells produced high levels of IL-13, while producing low levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma, upon primary and secondary stimulation. Our results point towards a possible immunoregulatory role of CD8 T cells in neonate responses. Moreover, they suggest that the abundance of IL-13 in the neonate immune system might account for the type 2 bias in neonates, providing a basis for the high disease susceptibility of newborns, for instance to allergic diseases.
Ribeiro-do-Couto
L M
LM
National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Vaccine Research (LVR), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Boeije
L C
LC
Kroon
J S
JS
Hooibrink
B
B
Breur-Vriesendorp
B S
BS
Aarden
L A
LA
Boog
C J
CJ
D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1