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Published on: August 12, 2020
Healthy preterm newborns: Altered innate immunity and impaired monocyte function
Sara De Biasi1, Anita Neroni1, Milena Nasi2
1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Insights
Preterm infants show altered innate immunity with impaired monocyte function and a pro-inflammatory profile. This may explain their higher susceptibility to infections, guiding new therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neonatal Research
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Neonatal immunity is immature, increasing preterm (PT) infants' infection risk.
- Monocytes and inflammasomes are crucial in early immune responses.
- Limited data exists on innate immune profiles in PT versus full-term infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in innate immune cell profiles, gene expression, and plasma cytokines between PT and full-term infants.
- To explore potential links between immune alterations and infection susceptibility in PT newborns.
Main Methods:
- High-dimensional flow cytometry to analyze monocyte and NK cell populations.
- Gene expression analysis of inflammasome activation.
- Plasma cytokine quantification, including alarmin S100A8 levels.
- Study cohort: 68 healthy PT and full-term infants.
Main Results:
- PT infants exhibited higher CD56+/- CD16+ NK cells and immature monocytes.
- Lower proportions of classical monocytes were observed in PT infants.
- Reduced inflammasome activation post-monocyte stimulation and elevated S100A8 plasma levels were noted in PT infants.
Conclusions:
- PT newborns possess altered innate immunity, characterized by monocyte functional impairment.
- A pro-inflammatory plasma profile in PT infants may contribute to increased infectious disease susceptibility.
- Findings suggest potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies and clinical interventions in preterm neonates.
Abstract:
Birth prior to 37 completed weeks of gestation is referred to as preterm (PT). Premature newborns are at increased risk of developing infections as neonatal immunity is a developing structure. Monocytes, which are key players after birth, activate inflammasomes. Investigations into the identification of innate immune profiles in premature compared to full-term infants are limited. Our research includes the investigation of monocytes and NK cells, gene expression, and plasma cytokine levels to investigate any potential differences among a cohort of 68 healthy PT and full-term infants. According to high-dimensional flow cytometry, PT infants have higher proportions of CD56+/- CD16+ NK cells and immature monocytes, and lower proportions of classical monocytes. Gene expression revealed lower proportions of inflammasome activation after in vitro monocyte stimulation and the quantification of plasma cytokine levels expressed higher concentrations of alarmin S100A8. Our findings suggest that PT newborns have altered innate immunity and monocyte functional impairment, and pro-inflammatory plasmatic profile. This may explain PT infants' increased susceptibility to infectious disease and should pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies and clinical interventions.
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