Neonatal adiposity may increase plasmatic cytokines
Maria Hernandez-Trejo1, Reyna Sámano2, Gabriela Chico-Barba2
1Neurobiología del Desarrollo, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, México.
Insights
Increased neonatal adiposity, indicated by birth weight and abdominal measurements, is linked to higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in newborns. Maternal smoking during pregnancy also significantly impacts these immune markers at birth.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Immunology
- Neonatal Health
Background:
- Maternal health and nutritional status significantly influence neonatal immune development and energy balance.
- Adiposity markers in mothers and neonates may correlate with inflammatory cytokine profiles at birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To associate maternal adiposity markers (BMI, gestational weight gain) and neonatal adiposity markers (birth weight, abdominal circumference, waist/height index) with cord blood cytokine levels.
- To investigate the relationship between specific cytokines (IL-1β, IL-1Rα, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and neonatal adiposity.
- To identify maternal risk factors, such as smoking and diabetes, associated with altered cytokine profiles.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory cross-sectional study with 29 mother-newborn pairs.
- Analysis of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain, and smoking status.
- Measurement of neonatal birth weight, abdominal circumference, and waist/height index.
- Quantification of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in umbilical cord blood.
- Application of non-parametric statistical analyses and a generalized linear model.
Main Results:
- Significant positive associations were found between neonatal adiposity markers (abdominal circumference, birth weight, waist-height index) and cord blood cytokine levels.
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy showed significant associations with cord blood cytokine levels.
- Gestational diabetes and pre-pregnancy obesity were prevalent in the study population.
Conclusions:
- Increased neonatal adiposity at birth is associated with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- Maternal smoking is a significant factor influencing neonatal immune marker profiles at birth.
- These findings highlight the impact of neonatal adiposity on early immune system development.
Abstract:
Maternal health and nutritional status before and during gestation may affect neonates' immune system and energy balance as they develop. The objective of this study was to associate certain clinical markers of maternal adiposity (body mass index and gestational weight gain) and neonatal adiposity (birth weight, abdominal circumference, and waist/height index) with the levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in umbilical cord blood at birth: IL-1β, IL-1Rα, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TNF-α. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of women from one hospital recruited shortly before giving birth through scheduled cesarean section. Of 31 the pregnant women who agreed to participate and met the inclusion criteria, twenty-nine newborns from these women were analyzed. Three cases of tobacco smoking during pregnancy were identified as an unexpected maternal risk factor and were included in the analysis. Typical of the population treated at this hospital, ten of our participants had diabetes during pregnancy, and nine of them had a pre-pregnancy BMI> 25. Non-parametric statistical analyses and a generalized linear model with gamma scale response with a log link were performed. Results: Correlation analyses, differences in medians, and a prediction model all showed positive and significant results between cytokine levels in cord blood and neonatal abdominal circumference, birth weight, and waist-height index. For maternal variables, smoking during pregnancy showed significant associations with cytokine levels in cord blood. Conclusion: This study found a variety of associations suggesting that increased neonatal adiposity increases pro-inflammatory cytokine levels at birth.
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