title: The LINA cohort: Cord blood eosinophil/basophil progenitors predict respiratory outcomes in early infancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cord blood eosinophil/basophil progenitor cells (Eo/B) of high risk infants have been shown to predict respiratory illnesses in infancy. Here we investigated this association in a population-based cohort. Furthermore, we analysed whether newborns Th1/Th2 balance and prenatal environmental exposure impact Eo/B recruitment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a sub-cohort of the LINA study cord blood mononuclear cells were used for methylcellulose assays to assess Eo/B differentiation. Questionnaires were recorded during pregnancy and annually thereafter. Volatile organic compounds were measured during pregnancy and cord blood cytokines after ex vivo stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cord blood IL-4 and IL-13 positively correlated with Eo/B. Tobacco smoke related benzene was also positively associated with Eo/B. Enhanced Eo/B numbers increased the risk for wheezing within the first 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between cord blood Eo/B and respiratory illnesses is not restricted to high-risk children. Prenatal environmental exposure and a Th2 milieu at birth contribute to Eo/B recruitment.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Department of Environmental Immunology, Germany; McMaster University, Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Hamilton, ON, Canada. Electronic address: kristin.junge@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Department of Environmental Immunology, Germany. Electronic address: friederike.hoernig@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hörnig
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Department of Environmental Immunology, Germany. Electronic address: gunda.herberth@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Gunda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herberth
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Core Facility Studies, Germany. Electronic address: stefan.roeder@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Röder
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Department of Metabolomics, Germany. Electronic address: tibor.kohajda@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kohajda
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Department of Metabolomics, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Department of Proteomics, Germany. Electronic address: ulrike.rolle-kampczyk@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rolle-Kampczyk
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Department of Metabolomics, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Department of Proteomics, Germany; Aalborg University, Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg, Denmark. Electronic address: martin.vonbergen@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Bergen
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Municipal Hospital "St. Georg", Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: Michael.Borte@sanktgeorg.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borte
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Leipzig, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Germany. Electronic address: Jan-Christoph.Simon@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Jan-Christoph
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Hamilton, ON, Canada. Electronic address: herouxd@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heroux
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Hamilton, ON, Canada. Electronic address: denburg@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Judah A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Denburg
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Department of Environmental Immunology, Germany. Electronic address: irina.lehmann@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lehmann
mesh_terms: D001491:Basophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology; D053686:Fetal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: Bronchitis; Cord blood; Eosinophil/basophil progenitors; LINA; Two year old children; Wheezing