title: Prenatal priming of cord blood T lymphocytes by microbiota in the maternal vagina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the vagina of women at the reproductive age, more than 170 strains of bacteria and yeasts are found. The effect of vaginal flora on neonatal T cells is yet to be investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed CD45RA and CD45RO expression on neonatal CD4+ T cells and cytokine production in CBMC cultures (interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-12) related to vaginal bacteria isolated from a maternal vagina. We collected vaginal swabs from 36 women at the first stage of the delivery and cord blood from their newborns. IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-12 in stimulated CBMC were measured and the expression of CD45RA/CD45RO on CD4+ T cells was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We noted the difference in CD45RO CD4+ expression and IL-12 levels between the newborns whose mothers were or were not colonized with Lactobacillus in the vagina (newborns whose mothers were colonized with Lactobacillus: CD45RO-10%+/-3; IL-12-0.2 pg/mL +/- 0.05; newborns whose mothers were not colonized with Lactobacillus: CD45RO-6%+/-3; IL-12-2.0 pg/mL +/- 0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results may indicate that lactobacilli in maternal vagina influence the development of neonatal immune system. Yet, more research is needed using specified bacterial antigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bytom, Medical University of Silesia, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stencel-Gabriel
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiczkowski
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olejek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D045142:Cross-Priming; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000276:immunology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens