Open AccessEvidence for a suppression of apoptosis in early postnatal life
Author(s) -
MalamitsiPuchner Ariadne,
Sarandakou Angeliki,
Tziotis John,
Trikka Panagioula,
Creatsas George
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0412.2001.801104.x
Subject(s) - apoptosis , medicine , fas ligand , umbilical cord , andrology , receptor , ligand (biochemistry) , tumor necrosis factor alpha , endocrinology , fetus , immunology , programmed cell death , pregnancy , biology , biochemistry , genetics
Background. In fetal life the rates of proliferation and apoptosis are high. We studied if the rate of apoptosis decreases after birth, by measuring the soluble (s) forms of Fas‐Fas ligand and Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1)‐TNF‐α which attenuate apoptosis. Subjects and methods. Blood was drawn from the umbilical cord and from a peripheral vein on day 1 and 4 of life in 35 infants and sFas, sFas ligand, sTNFR1 and sTNF‐α were determined by enzyme immunoassays. Data were analyzed by paired t ‐test and Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results. sFas and sTNF increased significantly from birth to day 4 of life ( p =0.033 and p <0.0001 respectively), while sTNFR1 increased significantly from birth to day 1 of life ( p <0.0001) followed by a significant decrease on day 4 of life ( p <0.0001). The levels of sFas and sTNF‐α on day 1 correlated with those on day 4 ( r =0.677, p <0.0002 and r =0.525, p <0.007 respectively). sFAS ligand was not detectable in any specimen. Conclusion. The increasing concentrations of the soluble molecules, sFas, sTNF‐α and sTNFR1 might indicate that apoptosis may be downregulated in early postnatal life.