Regulatory Τ-cell differentiation between maternal and cord blood samples in pregnancies with spontaneous vaginal delivery and with elective cesarian section.
OBJECTIVE
The immunological mechanisms preventing fetal antigenic rejection during normal pregnancy and the extent to which the type of delivery influences lymphocyte reactions are elusive.


METHODS
Maternal peripheral blood and neonatal umbilical cord blood (CB) was collected upon labor after vaginal delivery or cesarian section. Leukocytes were analyzed with flow cytometry, focusing on regulatory and γ/δ T-cells.


RESULTS
In CB from neonates delivered by vaginal delivery, natural killer cells were increased. On the other hand, in maternal blood, γ/δ T-cells were increased, and activated T-cells (cluster of differentiation [CD]4+/25(dim) /122+ cells) were decreased. Moreover, maternal blood presented increased levels of T regulatory cell subsets like CD4+/25(high) /45RO+, CD4+/25(high) /DR+, CD4+/25(high) /CD38+ and CD4+/25(high) /71+. In CB, CD19+, CD4+/25(high) /45RA+ and CD4+/25(high) /122+ cells were increased.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of delivery type on lymphocyte immunophenotype was minimal. Mothers' and neonates' lymphocyte subsets differed significantly. Mothers' phenotype comprised significantly of lymphocytes involved in tolerance (memory and activated regulatory T-cells, γ/δ T-cells).
Bili
Helen
H
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. helbil@auth.gr
Fleva
Alexandra
A
Pados
George
G
Argyriou
Theodoros
T
Tsolakidis
Dimitrios
D
Pavlitou
Aikaterini
A
Tarlatzis
Basil C
BC
D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta