Influence of gestational age, cesarean section, and type of feeding on fecal human beta-defensin 2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
OBJECTIVE
: Development of the mucosal immune system is essential for controlling antigenic response. External factors are known to influence the immune system, such as breast-feeding or the mode of delivery. The aim of the present study was to investigate maturation of the enteric immune system.


METHODS
: In stool samples of 59 preterm and term-born infants we measured the concentration of human beta-defensin 2 (HBD 2), an endogenous antimicrobial peptide, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a cytokine playing a central role in mucosal inflammation, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
: Mode of delivery as well as nutrition (breast-feeding or formula) had no influence on the fecal concentration of HBD-2 or TNF-alpha, but there was a significant increase in the concentration of HBD-2 in correlation with gestational age. TNF-alpha showed no change in concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
: Low fecal HBD-2 may be a risk factor in preterm infants to develop neonatal enteric disease, such as necrotizing enterocolitis.
Richter
Markus
M
Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Erlangen, Germany.
Topf
Hans-Georg
HG
Gröschl
Michael
M
Fröhlich
Thorsten
T
Tzschoppe
Anja
A
Wenzl
Tobias G
TG
Köhler
Henrik
H
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003106:Colon / Q000276:immunology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000254:growth & development; D041943:Infant Formula; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000032:analysis*
C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D023083:beta-Defensins