The modulatory effect of lipids and glucose on the neonatal immune response induced by Staphylococcus epidermidis.
BACKGROUND
Parenteral nutrition is an important risk factor for late onset sepsis in neonates. This may be caused by the long-term need of central venous access but also through a potentially modulating effect of lipids and glucose on the immune function.


OBJECTIVE
It was the aim of this study to characterize the effect of lipids and glucose on the neonatal immune response in an in vitro Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis model using whole cord blood of healthy term infants and preterm infants.


RESULTS
At the single cell level, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α expression of CD14+ cells was significantly increased upon addition of 1% lipids, while the addition of clinically meaningful lipid concentrations had no remarkable effect. When glucose was added to whole cord blood cultures, a dose-dependent effect was demonstrated for IL-8 expression but not for other cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
These in vitro data suggest that the proinflammatory cytokine response to S. epidermidis may be modulated by lipids and glucose. Further studies are needed to investigate whether these findings are applicable to clinical settings and to evaluate the role of cytokine monitoring in infants receiving long-term parenteral nutrition.
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Schleswig–Holstein, University of Lübeck Medical School, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Campus Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
Berit
B
Haase
Kirstin
K
Faust
Mathias
M
Heidemann
Tasja
T
Scholz
Martin
M
Demmert
Birte
B
Tröger
Alexander
A
Herz
Christoph
C
Härtel
D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D008055:Lipids; D005947:Glucose