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Updated: Aug 1, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Labor affects cytokine production in newborns
H Bessler1, A Kuperman, B Beilin
1Hematology and Immunology Research Laboratory, Rabin Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Sackler School of Medicine, Petah-Tiqva, Israel.
Problem:
To investigate whether the mode of delivery or the drugs given to the mother during labor may affect the newborns' immune system.
Method Of Study:
Three groups of term newborns were included: A, spontaneously delivered with i.v. analgesia (n = 37); B, spontaneously delivered with epidural analgesia (n = 26); and C, delivered by cesarean section under general anesthesia (n = 29). Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, mitogenic response, and the capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to produce interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were examined.
Results:
NK cell cytotoxicity increased significantly in all three groups of newborns on the second day of life. Decreased IL-2 production was observed in newborns delivered by cesarean section. Spontaneous IL-1 beta secretion was higher in newborns to mothers treated with epidural analgesia. Spontaneous IL-6 secretion was elevated in infants to mothers undergoing general anesthesia and surgery or epidural analgesia. TNF-alpha production was increased in newborns delivered by cesarean section.
Conclusion:
The immune response of the newborn is affected by the mode of delivery and/or drugs given to the mother during labor.
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