Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Derivation of T Cells In Vitro from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
08:27

Derivation of T Cells In Vitro from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: October 14, 2014

Association between antenatal cytokine production and the development of atopy and asthma at age 6 years

C Macaubas1, N H de Klerk, B J Holt

  • 1Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, and Centre for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Australia, Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Lancet (London, England)
|October 22, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Antenatal cytokine levels, specifically interleukin 4 and interferon gamma in cord blood, are linked to a reduced risk of childhood asthma and atopy. Maternal smoking negatively impacts these protective cytokine levels, highlighting a target for asthma prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatric Allergy
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Antenatal factors influence susceptibility to atopy and asthma.
  • Cytokines play a crucial role in placental immunological homeostasis.
  • Investigating antenatal cytokine profiles offers insights into early-life allergy development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between cord-blood cytokine concentrations and atopy/asthma outcomes at age 6.
  • To explore the influence of family, antenatal, and perinatal factors on these associations.
  • To assess the impact of maternal smoking on cord-blood cytokines and asthma risk.

Main Methods:

  • Assayed cord-blood serum from 407 children for key interleukins (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13), interferon gamma, and TNF-alpha.
  • Utilized logistic regression to analyze associations between factors, cytokines, and outcomes.
  • Employed propensity scores to estimate causal effects of cytokines on outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Detectable cord-blood IL-4 and interferon gamma were associated with significantly lower risks of physician-diagnosed asthma, current asthma, current wheeze, and atopy at age 6.
  • High tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) concentrations correlated with reduced atopy risk.
  • Maternal smoking was linked to increased wheeze risk and decreased levels of IL-4 and interferon gamma.

Conclusions:

  • The fetoplacental unit's cytokine production mechanism, similar to that in high-risk children, appears crucial for immune regulation.
  • This mechanism is vulnerable to disruption by maternal smoking, suggesting it's a key target for antenatal asthma prevention strategies.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Using Avian Skin Explants to Study Tissue Patterning and Organogenesis09:30

Using Avian Skin Explants to Study Tissue Patterning and Organogenesis

Published on: September 15, 2023

Mapping Infant Immunity with Minimal Input: Integrative Single-Cell and Multiomic Profiling10:29

Mapping Infant Immunity with Minimal Input: Integrative Single-Cell and Multiomic Profiling

Published on: April 3, 2026

Related Concept Videos

Determination01:51

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells01:15

Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells

Common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) are oligopotent cells that can differentiate into granulocytes and macrophages. Granulocytes and macrophages are essential for protecting the body against bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. They migrate from the bone marrow into the circulating blood to reach specific tissue sites where they differentiate and help in immune surveillance. However, they survive only for a few days and must be continuously made available to the organism to maintain a robust...
Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation01:10

Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation

The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...