4 research outputs found
Age-related differentiations of Th1/Th2 cytokines in newborn infants.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate age-related differentiation of immune response in newborns by measuring serum concentrations of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) during the perinatal period. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven healthy term neonates, their mothers and 25 healthy adults (controls) age-matched to the mothers were included in the study. Cytokine concentrations were measured in the umbilical cord (UC), and in first-day (1N) and fifth-day (5N) neonatal samples, compared with those in maternal serum (MS) and control serum samples. RESULTS: Serum IL-2 concentrations in the UC were markedly elevated compared with those in MS and controls (p < 0.0001), decreasing significantly thereafter up to 5N (p < 0.001). IL-4 serum concentrations did not differ significantly between the UC, 1N and 5N samples; they were, however, markedly elevated compared with those in MS (p < 0.001, p < 0.0007 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and controls (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.006, respectively). IFN-gamma serum concentrations were significantly lower in the UC compared with those in controls (p < 0.04), increasing significantly up to 5N (p < 0.03). Both IFN-gamma/IL-2 and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratios increased significantly in 5N, compared with those in the UC (p < 0.001 and p < 0.03). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate a differential cytokine balance at birth with enhanced expression of IL-2 and IL-4 against IFN-gamma. However, a regularization of immune response seems to proceed quickly during the early neonatal life
Placental growth factor (PlGF): a key to optimizing fetal growth
The needs of the uterus and the fetus for the provision of nutrients and
oxygen, supplied by the blood flow, are understandably extremely high,
with the circulatory system playing the most important role in this
action. Abnormal vascular growth and transformation that create a high
vessel resistance network have been associated with various pregnancy
pathologies, including miscarriage, small for gestational age (SGA)
fetuses with or without preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction
(IUGR). Placental growth factor (PlGF) has a major role in
vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in human placenta. Low concentrations of
PlGF and high concentrations of its inhibitor-soluble Fms-like tyrosine
kinase-1 (sFlt-1) are linked with impaired angiogenesis and placental
development, leading to the above pregnancy complications. The activity
of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is the most potent
of all angiogenic mediators, is partly modulated by PlGF. Although the
mechanisms via which PlGF exerts its various effects are still under
investigation, we herein discuss the known actions exerted by this major
mediator together with its results on fetal growth