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Caracterización fenotípica de células mononucleares de sangre de mujeres Gabonesas embarazadas y sus recién nacidos
Author(s) -
Köhler Carsten,
Adegnika Ayola A.,
van der Linden Reinier,
Luty Adrian J. F.,
Kremsner Peter G.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02812.x
Subject(s) - cord blood , phenotype , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , immunology , immune system , umbilical cord , pregnancy , biology , population , medicine , antigen , in vitro , genetics , gene , environmental health
Summary Objectives As many studies have analysed the immunological phenotype of either neonatal cord or maternal blood during pregnancy, but few have compared paired maternal and neonatal samples, we designed and conducted such a study in a Central African setting. Methods We used flow cytometric analyses with blood samples from pairs of Gabonese mothers and their newborns to determine the cellular composition of mononuclear cells as well as the activation status of T and B lymphocytes and antigen‐presenting cells. Results The results indicate higher activation levels of neonatal cells involved in the first‐line defence against pathogens such as natural killer cells, while the neonatal T‐ and B‐cell compartment as well as the neonatal monocyte subpopulations shows a less mature phenotype. Conclusions Our findings likely reflect a specific neonatal defence mechanism that compensates for otherwise poorly developed immune responses at birth, especially important in an area with a high burden of infectious agents such as Gabon. The data contribute to the establishment of reference values for the mother–neonate relationship in African regions that have similar environmental characteristics.