Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Microfluidic Approach to Resolve Simultaneous and Sequential Cytokine Secretion of Individual Polyfunctional Cells
Published on: March 8, 2024
Cytokine concentrations during the first days of life
Demetrios Rizos1, Efthimia Protonotariou2, Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner2
1Hormone Laboratory, "Aretaieion" University Hospital, 76, Vas. Sophias Ave., 115 28 Athens, Greece.
Insights
Neonatal cytokine patterns show early IL-2 and IL-4 expression, with IFN-gamma levels rising by week one. This study tracks key immune markers in newborns during their first five days of life.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neonatal Research
- Cytokine Biology
Background:
- The early neonatal period is critical for immune system development.
- Understanding cytokine dynamics is essential for assessing neonatal immune status.
- Type-1 and Type-2 cytokines play crucial roles in immune regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum concentrations of type-1 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma) and type-2 cytokines (IL-4) and their receptors (sIL-2R, sIL-4R) in neonates.
- To characterize cytokine profiles during the first 5 days of life.
- To compare neonatal cytokine levels with those of healthy adults.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples collected from 42 healthy term neonates at umbilical cord, day 1, and day 5 postpartum.
- Cytokine and receptor concentrations measured using immunoassay techniques.
- Comparison of neonatal data with serum samples from 30 healthy adults.
Main Results:
- Interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels decreased from umbilical cord to day 5, while soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) significantly increased.
- Interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels showed no significant change, but soluble IL-4 receptor (sIL-4R) peaked on day 1.
- Neonatal IL-4 and sIL-4R levels were higher than adult levels; Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) significantly increased by day 5.
Conclusions:
- A dysregulation in IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma concentrations occurs within the first day postpartum.
- Neonates exhibit a precocious expression of IL-2 and IL-4 relative to IFN-gamma.
- These cytokine imbalances appear to normalize by the end of the first week of life.
Objective:
To evaluate the cytokine concentration patterns during the first 5 days of life by measuring serum concentrations of type-1 cytokines, like interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and type-2 cytokines, like IL-4, as well as the receptors of IL-2 (sIL-2R) and IL-4 (sIL-4R) during the early neonatal period.
Subjects And Methods:
Forty-two healthy term neonates were included in the study. Cytokine concentrations were measured in umbilical cord, in the 1st and 5th day after birth and compared with those in serum of 30 healthy adults.
Results:
IL-2 concentrations presented a decrease trend from umbilical cord to 5th day, while sIL-2R showed a significant elevation from umbilical cord to 5th day after birth. IL-4 concentrations did not differ significantly among umbilical cord, the 1st and the 5th day, while the sIL-4R showed the highest values in the 1st day after birth. Both IL-4 and sIL-4R concentrations in neonatal samples were elevated compared to adults. IFN-gamma concentrations increased significantly from umbilical cord to 5th day of life.
Conclusion:
Our findings indicate a dysregulation among IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma concentrations during the 1st day after birth, favoring a more precocious expression of IL-2 and IL-4 against IFN-gamma that seems to be ameliorated in the end of the 1st week of life.
