title: Fetal cord blood: aspects of heightened immune responses.
abstract: Neonatal immune responses have been associated with the development of atopy in childhood. We assessed in cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) whether increased allergen/mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation (LP) is associated with pro-allergic Th2 cytokine IL-13 or Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma secretion. We determined whether LP to one allergen is related to heightened lymphocyte function to other allergens/mitogen. CBMC from 135 neonates were stimulated with house dust mite (Derf1), cockroach, ovalbumin, or mitogen. LP to one allergen was associated with significantly increased LP to other allergens/mitogen. Increased Derf1-LP was associated with increased Derf1-induced IL-13 secretion (r = 0.21, p = 0.01). After adjusting for neonatal gender, race, and maternal smoking, Derf1-LP remained associated with Derf1-IL-13 (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.56-6.10). Increased mitogen-induced proliferation was associated with increased mitogen-induced IL-13 secretion (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). For some individuals, a predisposition to a heightened immune response is already evident at birth. Whether this phenotype results in atopy in childhood warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: University Children's Hospital, Dr von Haunersches Kinderspital, Munich, Germany. bianca.schaub@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schaub
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Tantisira
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Litonjua
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Gillman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Finn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018793:Interleukin-13; D008934:Mitogens; D007371:Interferon-gamma