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Comparison of neonatal T regulatory cell function in Papua New Guinean and Australian newborns
Author(s) -
Lisciandro Joanne G.,
Prescott Susan L.,
NadalSims Marie G.,
Devitt Catherine J.,
Pomat William,
Siba Peter M.,
Holt Patrick G.,
Strickland Deborah,
van den Biggelaar Anita H.J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2011.01242.x
Subject(s) - medicine , foxp3 , cord blood , interleukin 7 receptor , immunology , neonatal mortality , in utero , regulatory t cell , il 2 receptor , t cell , fetus , pregnancy , biology , immune system , infant mortality , population , genetics , environmental health
To cite this article: Lisciandro JG, Prescott SL, Nadal‐Sims MG, Devitt CJ, Pomat W, Siba PM., Holt PG, Strickland D, van den Biggelaar AHJ. Comparison of neonatal T regulatory cell function in Papua New Guinean and Australian newborns. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011: Doi: 10.1111/j.1399‐3038.2011.01242.x. Abstract Background: Environmental changes, including declining microbial exposure, have been linked with the rising incidence of allergic and autoimmune diseases in ‘western’ populations. This potentially occurs by altering early development of immuno‐regulatory pathways including T regulatory cells (T reg ). There is now increasing evidence that such conditioning begins in utero. Methods: We compared neonatal T reg from children born under typical western conditions (Australia, AUS) with those of neonates born under more traditional conditions of high microbial burden (Papua New Guinea, PNG). Results: The frequency of neonatal T reg , defined as CD4 + Foxp3 + CD127 − CD25 +/high was found to be higher in the cord blood of AUS compared to PNG newborns. However, cord T reg suppressive function in a small subset of children was qualitatively similar between PNG and AUS newborns in both a T reg depletion assay and a T reg supplementation assay. Conclusions: These findings do not support the hypothesis that living in a ‘western’ versus more traditional environment leads to poor induction or suppressive function of neonatal T reg . However, environmentally‐induced immuno‐regulation may potentially occur via alternative mechanisms in PNG newborns that should now be investigated further.