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Comparison of Serum TARC Levels at Term-Equivalent Age Between Preterm and Term Infants
Ayako Goto1, Kei Kubota2, Takashi Sakaguchi1
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan, fukuoka-u.ac.jp.
Journal of Immunology Research
|May 29, 2026
Summary
Preterm infants show lower thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) levels at term-equivalent age, indicating immune maturation. Neonatal TARC levels were not linked to allergy development by age six.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal immunology
- Allergy research
- Pediatric health
Background:
- Preterm infants exhibit reduced allergy incidence, but serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) data are scarce.
- Understanding immune markers in preterm infants is crucial for predicting allergy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare serum TARC levels at term-equivalent age between preterm and term infants.
- To investigate the association between neonatal TARC levels and allergic outcomes at six years of age.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1221 infants (preterm and term) admitted to NICU (2012-2018).
- Serum TARC levels measured at term-equivalent age (37-42 weeks).
- Allergic outcomes (atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma) assessed at age six using ISAAC-based questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Serum TARC levels demonstrated a positive correlation with gestational age.
- No significant association found between neonatal TARC levels and factors like SGA, sex, or medication use.
- Preterm infants showed lower atopic dermatitis and higher bronchial asthma prevalence at age six, independent of neonatal TARC levels.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants have lower serum TARC levels, reflecting a gestational age-dependent immune maturation.
- Neonatal TARC levels do not predict later allergic outcomes in this cohort.
- Bronchial asthma in preterm infants may involve nonatopic wheezing phenotypes, requiring careful interpretation.
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