THE PRODUCTION OF PROINFLAMMATORY AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN NEONATES ASSESSED BY STIMULATED WHOLE CORD-BLOOD CULTURE AND BY PLASMA-LEVELS AT BIRTH

The capability of neonates to achieve cytokine balance was evaluated, Production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF alpha and IL-8, of th e natural anti-inflammatory cytokine ILIO and of the regulator of the acute phase response IL6 was assessed after whole blood stimulation by lipopolysaccharide in cord blood (n = 10), adult volunteers serving a s control (n = 17), Additionally, circulating cytokines were determine d in cord and in maternal blood immediately after delivery (n = 27, re spectively). Significant production of TNF alpha, IL8, ILIO and IL6 wa s observed in cord blood after lipopolysaccharide stimulation and was similar to cytokine production in adult blood, The plasma concentratio ns of TNF alpha were significantly higher in cord than in maternal blo od, while plasma concentrations of ILIO and IL6 were significantly low er. Our results demonstrate fully developed capability of whole cord b lood to synthesize pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in response to a pro-inflammatory stimulation in vitro, In vivo, however, higher circ ulating TNF alpha and lower IL10 and IL6 levels in cord blood suggest that the inflammatory stress associated with normal delivery does not induce detectable anti-inflammatory response in neonates at birth.