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Role of innate immunity in neonatal infection

Alex G Cuenca1, James L Wynn, Lyle L Moldawer

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

American Journal of Perinatology
|January 9, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Newborns have a unique immune system making them vulnerable to infections. Research explores enhancing infant immunity with antimicrobial proteins and peptides for better defense.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Newborns face heightened infection risks from genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors.
  • Neonatal innate immune system plays a crucial role in host defense against pathogens.
  • Distinct immune profiles in term and preterm newborns influence susceptibility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the neonatal innate immune system's role in defending against bacterial and viral infections.
  • To understand the vulnerabilities of newborns to intracellular pathogens and pyogenic bacteria.
  • To identify potential strategies for enhancing infant immune responses.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of neonatal innate immune system characteristics.
  • Comparison of immune responses in full-term versus preterm newborns.
  • Review of ongoing research into immune response modifiers and vaccine adjuvants.

Main Results:

  • Full-term newborns exhibit a T(H)2-/T(H)17-biased immune system with impaired T(H)1 responses, increasing vulnerability to intracellular pathogens.
  • Preterm newborns show additional deficits including fragile skin, impaired T(H)17 production, and reduced complement and antimicrobial protein/peptide (APP) expression.
  • These factors contribute to susceptibility to various infections in newborns.

Conclusions:

  • The neonatal immune system's distinct features predispose newborns to specific infections.
  • Antimicrobial proteins and peptides (APPs), such as bacterial/permeability-increasing protein and lactoferrin, are key targets for enhancing infant immunity.
  • APP-based strategies and pattern recognition receptor agonists show promise as immune response modifiers or vaccine adjuvants for infants.

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