Maternal and neonatal IL-4 and IFN-gamma production at delivery and 3 months after birth.
OBJECTIVE
To study the production, interrelationships and determinants of maternal and neonatal cytokines (IL-4 and IFN-gamma) in whole blood cultures during labor, after vaginal delivery and at 3 months after delivery.


RESULTS
The concentrations of maternal IFN-gamma and IL-4 in peripheral blood were down-regulated at delivery compared with values 3 months postpartum. The concentrations of neonatal IFN-gamma and IL-4 were down-regulated at birth and were still at a low level 3 months later. The concentrations of IFN-gamma in maternal and umbilical cord blood samples correlated at delivery (r=0.43; P<0.03). Maternal IL-4 concentrations correlated immediately after delivery and 3 months later (r=0.46; P<0.02) as did those of IFN-gamma (r=0.57; P<0.002). Neonates who were delivered at less than 40 weeks of gestation had higher IFN-gamma concentrations 3 months after birth than those who were delivered after a longer duration of gestation (341 vs. 157 pg/ml; P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Broad immune activation, reflected in increased production of IL-4 and IFN-gamma, can be detected in women during the postpartum period. Labor-related factors had little effect on ranking of mothers in terms of their IL-4 or IFN-gamma levels, since maternal production of these cytokines correlated immediately after delivery and 3 months later. In neonates, the production of IFN-gamma 3 months after birth was dependent on gestational age at delivery.
Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland. pkorte@dnainternet.net
Leea
L
Keski-Nisula
Maija-Riitta
MR
Hirvonen
Marjut
M
Roponen
Seppo
S
Heinonen
Juha
J
Pekkanen
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma