Maternal obesity alters immune cell frequencies and responses in umbilical cord blood samples
Randall M Wilson1, Nicole E Marshall2, Daniel R Jeske3
1Graduate program in Cel, Molecular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
Insights
Maternal obesity impacts neonatal immune development, leading to fewer T cells and altered immune cell function in newborns. This may increase offspring risk for inflammatory diseases like asthma.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neonatal Development
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Maternal obesity is a key factor influencing neonatal immune system development.
- Murine studies show adverse outcomes in offspring of obese dams; human studies link maternal obesity to increased asthma risk in children.
- Mechanisms underlying immune dysregulation in infants of obese mothers are poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal body weight and the human neonatal immune system.
- To identify specific immune cell and factor alterations in neonates born to mothers with varying body weights.
Main Methods:
- Collection of umbilical cord blood samples from infants born to lean, overweight, and obese mothers.
- Quantification of immune cell populations (frequency and function) using flow cytometry.
- Multiplex analysis of circulating factors in cord blood.
Main Results:
- Infants of obese mothers had fewer eosinophils and CD4 T helper cells compared to infants of lean mothers.
- Neonates of obese mothers exhibited reduced monocyte and dendritic cell responses to Toll-like receptor ligands.
- Elevated plasma levels of interferon-alpha 2 (IFN-α2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were observed in cord blood of infants born to obese mothers.
Conclusions:
- Maternal obesity influences the programming of the neonatal immune system.
- Findings suggest a potential link between maternal obesity and increased incidence of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and cardiovascular disease, in offspring.
Background:
Maternal obesity is one of the several key factors thought to modulate neonatal immune system development. Data from murine studies demonstrate worse outcomes in models of infection, autoimmunity, and allergic sensitization in offspring of obese dams. In humans, children born to obese mothers are at increased risk for asthma. These findings suggest a dysregulation of immune function in the children of obese mothers; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal body weight and the human neonatal immune system.
Methods:
Umbilical cord blood samples were collected from infants born to lean, overweight, and obese mothers. Frequency and function of major innate and adaptive immune cell populations were quantified using flow cytometry and multiplex analysis of circulating factors.
Results:
Compared to babies born to lean mothers, babies of obese mothers had fewer eosinophils and CD4 T helper cells, reduced monocyte and dendritic cell responses to Toll-like receptor ligands, and increased plasma levels of IFN-α2 and IL-6 in cord blood.
Conclusion:
These results support the hypothesis that maternal obesity influences programming of the neonatal immune system, providing a potential link to increased incidence of chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma and cardiovascular disease in the offspring.
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