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Interleukin 2 proliferative response by cord blood mononuclear cells of term and preterm neonates
S Miceli Sopo1, M A Pesaresi, E Celestini
1Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of Rome, Italy.
Insights
Resting cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) from term neonates show significant proliferation in response to human recombinant interleukin 2 (hrIL-2), unlike preterm neonates. This study clarifies conflicting findings on neonatal immune cell responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neonatal Research
Background:
- Conflicting results exist regarding the proliferative response of neonatal cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) to human recombinant interleukin 2 (hrIL-2).
- Previous studies have reported either a good or poor response in term neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the proliferative response of resting CBMC from term neonates to varying concentrations of hrIL-2.
- To compare the response of CBMC to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from adult subjects.
- To examine the reactivity of CBMC from preterm neonates to hrIL-2.
Main Methods:
- Assessing the proliferation of resting CBMC and adult PBMC stimulated with hrIL-2 without mitogenic or antigenic stimuli.
- Flow cytometry analysis to identify responding cell populations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD21+, NK cells).
- Evaluating the hrIL-2 response in CBMC from preterm neonates.
Main Results:
- Resting CBMC from term neonates demonstrated significant reactivity to hrIL-2, contrasting with some previous reports.
- Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells responded, with a notable increase in CD4+ T cells and a decrease in CD21+ B-lymphocytes in CBMC compared to adult PBMC.
- The percentage of NK cells decreased in both neonatal and adult samples.
- CBMC from preterm neonates exhibited a low response to hrIL-2.
Conclusions:
- Term neonatal CBMC possess significant proliferative capacity in response to hrIL-2, clarifying previous discrepancies.
- Distinctive changes in T cell subsets and B-lymphocytes are observed in neonatal responses.
- The immune response to hrIL-2 in preterm neonates is notably diminished.
Abstract:
The results of previous studies on the proliferative response of resting cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) of term neonates to human recombinant interleukin 2 (hrIL-2) are contrasting. Some authors have reported a good and others a poor response. In our study we have obtained a significant reactivity, compared with the response of resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of adult subjects, of resting CBMC to varying quantities of hrIL-2 in the absence of any known mitogenic or antigenic stimuli. Most responding cells was CD3 positive. Both CD4-positive and CD8-positive cells responded. However, we observed a more marked increase of the percentage of the CD4-positive T cells and a clear reduction of the percentage of the CD21-positive cells (B-lymphocytes) testing CBMC rather than PBMC of the adult subjects. The percentage of the NK cells was reduced in both the categories of subjects. Moreover, we have examined the reactivity to hrIL-2 of CBMC of preterm neonates. The results showed that this response is low. The peculiar level and kinetic of CBMC proliferative response to hrIL-2 are discussed.