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Elevated Umbilical Cord Cytokines are Related to Birth Size in HIV‐exposed and Unexposed Infants
Author(s) -
Wilkinson Amanda,
Pedersen Sarah,
Urassa Mark,
Michael Denna,
Andreasen Aura,
Todd Jim,
Kinung'hi Safari,
Changalucha John,
McDermid Joann
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.403.2
Subject(s) - medicine , umbilical cord , birth weight , gestational age , intrauterine growth restriction , obstetrics , immune system , cytokine , cord blood , anthropometry , premature birth , immunology , colostrum , fetus , pregnancy , proinflammatory cytokine , physiology , inflammation , biology , genetics , antibody
Background Infection causes immune activation and inflammatory cytokines may be mediators of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). While infection and IUGR are common in developing regions, the intrauterine cytokine environment and its impact on birth size is undefined. Understanding the fetal environment mediated by multiple cytokines may inform interventions targeting birth anthropometry.Objective To investigate the relationship between umbilical cord cytokines and birth size.Methods Umbilical cord cytokines (IFN‐γ, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐6, TNF‐α, IL‐12p70, IL‐10, IL‐13) were multiplexed from 50 singleton deliveries of women residing in rural Tanzania (38% HIV‐positive). Birth weight and length were assessed using linear regression models adjusted for maternal age, nutritional status, HIV, and infant gender.
Results Cord IFN‐γ, IL‐1β, TNF‐α, IL‐12p70, and IL‐10 were each associated with reduced birth weight (grams; ‐532, P<0.01; ‐372, P=0.04; ‐315, P=0.03; ‐721, P<0.01; ‐278, P=0.04; respectively) and IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, and IL‐12p70 with reduced length.Cord cytokines were not associated with gestational age at delivery and did not differ based on maternal HIV status.
Conclusions Elevated cord blood cytokines, which suggest intrauterine immune activation and inflammation, were associated with clinically important reductions in birth weight and length. Understanding these relationships may be key to optimizing fetal growth outcomes in this setting.