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Delayed development of systemic immunity in preterm pigs as a model for preterm infants
Duc Ninh Nguyen1, Pingping Jiang1, Hanne Frøkiær2
1Section of Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Scientific Reports
|November 11, 2016
Summary
Preterm neonates exhibit immature systemic immunity with a unique developmental path. Early postnatal interventions may enhance their immune defenses against infections.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neonatal Development
- Comparative Medicine
Background:
- Preterm neonates are vulnerable to infections due to underdeveloped immune systems.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the systemic immune development trajectory post-preterm birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize systemic immune development in preterm neonates.
- To compare immune trajectories between preterm, near-term, and term neonates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a pig model to study blood leukocyte subsets, antimicrobial activity, and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated cytokine production.
- Assessed immune parameters during the first weeks after preterm birth.
Main Results:
- Newborn preterm pigs showed lower leukocyte counts, reduced neutrophil phagocytosis, and limited cytokine responses compared to near-term/term pigs.
- Immune parameters in preterm pigs improved post-birth but remained distinct from controls even at 2-3 weeks.
- Specific improvements included increased leukocyte numbers, NK cell proportion, neutrophil phagocytosis, and TLR2-mediated IL-6/TNF-α production.
Conclusions:
- Systemic immunity follows a distinct developmental trajectory in preterm neonates.
- Postnatal age, prematurity complications, and environmental factors may influence this trajectory.
- The early postnatal period offers a potential window for interventions to bolster innate immunity in preterm infants.
