Comparison of the Expression Profiles of Immune Response Gene mRNA in Umbilical and Venous Blood of Newborns of the First Day of Life

Abstract

The expression of immune response gene mRNA in the umbilical and venous blood were compared in newborns of the first day of life with and without signs of infection. The expression of il1b, il6, il8, il10, il12a, il15, il18, tnfa, tgfb1, tbx21, gata3, foxp3, rorc2, cd45, cd68, cd69, tlr2, tlr4, tlr9, and mmp8 mRNA was evaluated in umbilical and venous blood cells of newborns by reverse transcription real time PCR. In full-term newborns without signs of infection, the expression of il8, tlr2, tlr4, and mmp8 in venous blood was higher than in umbilical blood, while in preterm newborns, the levels of mmp8 transcript were elevated while the levels of tlr9, cd45, and gata3 were reduced. The expression of some markers differed in the umbilical and venous blood and in newborns with congenital infectious disease and without signs of infection.

Activation of the neonatal immune system in healthy neonates within hours of birth

“…Indeed, much of the changes in both proliferation and cytokine potential observed were not as apparent in samples taken >16 h post birth, suggesting our observations are a transient response to myriad challenges immediately post birth. It is known that several cell types, as well as cytokines, are altered during the natural birth process (6) (7) (8) (9). Our samples, however, were all taken after planned caesarean deliveries, and as such, would not have been subjected to the magnitude of hormonal surges or stress response associated with labour and vaginal delivery (10).…”