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Umbilical cord plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and immune function at birth: the Urban Environment and

A Chi1, J Wildfire, R McLoughlin

  • 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111–1800, USA. achi@tuftsmedicalcenter.org

Clinical and Experimental Allergy : Journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|April 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Higher vitamin D levels at birth may be linked to fewer T-regulatory cells, potentially influencing early immune regulation. This study examined prenatal vitamin D status and newborn immune function.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Perinatal Health

Background:

  • Conflicting data exists on the association between maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy and childhood asthma.
  • Prenatal vitamin D status is a critical factor for fetal development and immune system maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between prenatal vitamin D levels and neonatal immune cell function.
  • To assess the impact of umbilical cord plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) on cytokine production and T-regulatory cell markers in newborns.

Main Methods:

  • Umbilical cord plasma 25(OH)D concentrations were measured in 568 newborns from an inner-city birth cohort.
  • Cytokine responses of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCMCs) to PHA, LPS, and peptidoglycan were analyzed.
  • Regulatory T cell markers and suppressive activity of CD4(+) CD25(+) UCMCs were assessed in a subset of infants.

Main Results:

  • Most UCMC cytokine responses did not correlate with umbilical cord plasma 25(OH)D levels.
  • A weak positive correlation was observed between 25(OH)D concentration and IFN-γ release after LPS stimulation.
  • Higher 25(OH)D concentrations were inversely correlated with the proportion of CD4(+) T cells expressing CD25, CD25(Bright), and CD25(+) FoxP3.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal vitamin D status appears to influence immune regulation in early life.
  • Higher vitamin D levels at birth may be associated with a reduced number of T-regulatory cells.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of vitamin D in neonatal immune development and its long-term implications.
Abstract

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