title: Dysfunction of innate immunity and associated pathology in neonates.
abstract: The neutrophils and complement system are the critical elements of innate immunity mainly due to participation in the first line of defense against microorganisms by means of phagocytosis, lysis of bacteria and activation of naive B-lymphocytes. In this report we provide an overview of the up to date information regarding the neutrophil and complement system's functional ability in newborn infants in association with the maternal conditions that exist during the intrauterine stage, gestational age and post-neonatal pathology. The neonates' capacity to control the neutrophil and complement protein activation process has also been discussed because of the evidence that uncontrolled activation of these immune elements provides a significant contribution to the tissue damage and subsequent pathology. The authors are confident that despite the many unanswered questions this review updates their knowledge and points the need for further research to clarify the role of the age-associated dysfunction of neutrophils and complement system in the infection and inflammation related pathology of newborn infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903-0019, USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrova
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology*; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins