Imbalanced cytokine secretion in newborns.
In adults, a balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokine networks has been proposed to be associated with a healthy status. Newborn babies are reported to express Th2-type immune reactions. Further, the impaired protection of newborn babies against infections has been attributed to a deficient secretion of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Using IFN-gamma and IL-10 as surrogate markers of Th1 and Th2 orientation, we compared the patterns of IFN-gamma and IL-10 secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells between 52 healthy newborns and 35 adults. The baseline secretion of IFN-gamma in adults was similar to that of newborns. The lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IFN-gamma secretion was higher in newborns than in adults, whereas the concanavalin-A-stimulated IFN-gamma secretion was higher in adults. The unstimulated and stimulated IL-10 secretion was significantly lower in newborns than in adults. Using a threshold level of 1,000 pg/ml, we classified neonates and adults on the basis of their stimulated IL-10 and IFN-gamma secretion. Four different groups were identified: IL-10-oriented secretion, IFN-gamma- oriented secretion, balanced high secretion, and balanced low secretion. Only 25% of the neonates had a high IL-10 and a high IFN-gamma secretion as compared with 77% of the adults. Eight percent of the newborns, but none of the adults, had a low secretion of both cytokines. Thirty-six percent of the neonates, but only 5% of the adults, had a high IL-10 and a low IFN-gamma secretion. Thirty-one percent of the neonates and 18% of the adults had a high IFN-gamma secretion, but a low IL-10 secretion. We conclude that neonates have an immature IL-10 and IFN-gamma response as compared with adults. However, individual neonates may have a mature cytokine secretion, whereas others may have a Th1- or a Th2-directed immune response.
Kotiranta-Ainamo
Anna
A
Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Anna.Kotiranta-Ainamo@hus.fi
Rautonen
Jukka
J
Rautonen
Nina
N
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D003208:Concanavalin A; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma