Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production is impaired in cord blood monocytes. However, the mechanism underlying this developmental attenuation remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the extent of variability within the Toll-like receptor (TLR)/NLRP3 inflammasome pathways in human neonates. We show that immature low CD14 expressing/CD16 pos monocytes predominate before 33 weeks of gestation, and that these cells lack production of the pro-IL-1β precursor protein upon LPS stimulation. In contrast, high levels of pro-IL-1β are produced within high CD14 expressing monocytes, although these cells are unable to secrete mature IL-1β. The lack of secreted IL-1β in these monocytes parallels a reduction of NLRP3 induction following TLR stimulation resulting in a lack of caspase-1 activity before 29 weeks of gestation, whereas expression of the apoptosisassociated speck-like protein containing a CARD and function of the P2×7 receptor are preserved. Our analyses also reveal a strong inhibitory effect of placental infection on LPS/ATP-induced caspase-1 activity in cord blood monocytes. Lastly, secretion of IL-1β in preterm neonates is restored to adult levels during the neonatal period, indicating rapid maturation of these responses after birth. Collectively, our data highlight important developmental mechanisms regulating IL-1β responses early in gestation, in part due to a downregulation of TLR-mediated NLRP3 expression. Such mechanisms may serve to limit potentially damaging inflammatory responses in a developing fetus.Keywords: Human r Inflammasome r Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) r Neonate r Toll-like receptor Additional supporting information may be found in the online version of this article at the publisher's web-site Correspondence: Dr. Pascal M. Lavoie e-mail: plavoie@cw.bc.ca * These authors contributed equally to this work.C 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim www.eji-journal.eu Eur. J. Immunol. 2015. 45: 238-249 Innate immunity 239
IntroductionNewborns are at high risk of infections, in part due to attenuated innate immune defenses [1]. The cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is an important inflammatory mediator in response to infections [2]. Mice lacking IL-1β display impaired acute phase and pyrogenic responses [3], and increased susceptibility to pathogens commonly encountered in the neonatal period [4,5]. In contrast, high levels of IL-1β in a fetus can result in autoimmune organ damage [2], as well as lethal metabolic disturbances including severe weight loss and hypoglycemia [6]. Together, these data illustrate the evolutionary importance of a tight regulation of IL-1β in order to avoid inflammation-mediated organ damage, neurological injury [7], or even premature birth in a developing human [2,8].Monocytes are primarily responsible for the production of IL-1β in circulating blood [9,10]. Three subsets predominate in humans: "Classical" monocytes express CD14, but lack expression of the immunoglobulin receptor CD16. These CD14 high /CD16 neg monocytes make up the majority of monocytes in peripheral adult bloo...