Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 17, 2026

In Vitro Assays to Evaluate the Migration, Invasion, and Proliferation of Immortalized Human First-trimester Trophoblast Cell Lines
09:57

In Vitro Assays to Evaluate the Migration, Invasion, and Proliferation of Immortalized Human First-trimester Trophoblast Cell Lines

Published on: March 5, 2019

10.8K

The timing of antenatal glucocorticoids determines the receptor sensitivity in preterm infants

Ingmar Fortmann1,2, Jan Hendric Britsemmer3, Marianne Lehmann4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Lübeck 23562, Germany.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|February 16, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Antenatal glucocorticoids (aGC) given to premature infants may increase immune disorder vulnerability. Timing aGCs with maternal circadian rhythms may improve infant immune response.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal immunology
  • Circadian biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Preterm birth affects 11% globally.
  • Antenatal glucocorticoids (aGC) accelerate fetal lung maturation but increase immune disorder risk.
  • Timing of aGC administration may influence infant vulnerability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if the timing of aGC exposure relative to maternal circadian rhythms affects infant immune development.
  • To compare immune markers in preterm infants exposed to aGCs in-phase (IP) or out-of-phase (OP) with maternal cortisol peaks.

Main Methods:

  • Observational cohort study of preterm infants.
  • Assessed GC receptor (GR) sensitivity, gene expression (RNA sequencing), and DNA methylation in peripheral blood cells.
  • Compared IP, OP, and control (C) groups (n=13 C, 17 IP, 17 OP).

Main Results:

  • Out-of-phase (OP) infants showed reduced GR sensitivity.
  • OP infants had suppressed expression of genes crucial for antibody production, leucocyte migration, and antigen presentation.

Conclusions:

  • aGC administration timed with maternal circadian rhythms may enhance infant immune defenses.
  • Aligning aGC exposure with maternal cortisol rhythms could improve preterm infants' ability to combat pathogens early in life.
Abstract

Keywords:
glucocorticoid receptorperipheral blood mononuclear cellspremature infantsprenatal glucocorticoids

More Related Videos

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

11.9K
P50 Sensory Gating in Infants12:55

P50 Sensory Gating in Infants

Published on: December 26, 2013

9.6K

Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
3.1K
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
4.3K
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis01:20

Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis

Tachyphylaxis is described as a rapid decrease in response to a drug after repeated or continuous administration of the same drug dose. It is a phenomenon where the body becomes less responsive to a particular substance or intervention over time, requiring higher doses or stronger interventions to achieve the same effect. It results from adaptive changes in the body's receptors, signaling pathways, or physiological processes that occur in response to prolonged exposure to a stimulus.
3.2K
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids01:25

Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are anti-inflammatory drugs used primarily in treating persistent asthma and providing long-term maintenance. They target the bronchial mucosa, the lining of the airways, to control inflammation, a critical factor in asthma progression and exacerbation.
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
1.6K
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
15