title: Influence of gestational age, cesarean section, and type of feeding on fecal human beta-defensin 2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Topf
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gröschl
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fröhlich
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tzschoppe
authors.forename: Tobias G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Wenzl
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köhler
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D023083:beta-Defensins