A. Ozdemir et al., NEONATAL TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR, INTERLEUKIN-1-ALPHA, INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA, AND INTERLEUKIN-6 RESPONSE TO INFECTION, American journal of perinatology, 11(4), 1994, pp. 282-285
Various studies have shown that in vitro production of cytokines by le
ukocytes from the newborn are normal, decreased, or increased. We inve
stigated the blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) i
nterleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin-6
(IL-6) simultaneously to assess the cytokine response to systemic infe
ction during the neonatal period. One or more cytokine levels were ele
vated in all of the newborns with sepsis. Serum TNF levels in the newb
orns with sepsis were significantly higher than the two control groups
(P<0.002). Serum IL-6 levels in the study group were also found to be
significantly higher than the control groups (P<0.0004 for sepsis vs
adult controls and P<0.03 for sepsis vs newborn controls). We could no
t find statistically significant correlation between any of the cytoki
ne levels, C-reactive protein, white blood cells, and platelet counts
and the outcome. Gram-negative bacteria were the main causative agents
in these patients, although one of them was infected with gram-positi
ve bacteria, besides one premature infant (29 weeks) with Candida seps
is also had significantly elevated TNF, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 levels. Ou
r data show that both mature and premature neonates were able to produ
ce and significantly increase the blood levels of the cytokines in res
ponse to sepsis. Because the biologic relevance of cytokine levels is
not known, further prospective and sequential studies on cytokine leve
ls simultaneously and correlation with clinical parameters are needed
to clarify the biological role of this important component of the host
defense system.