COCAINE SUPPRESSES FETAL IMMUNE-SYSTEM

The effects of cocaine are well documented in the CNS; however, recent evidence suggests that cocaine may suppress the immune system. Matern al cocaine use essentially exposes the fetus to a continuous exposure of cocaine. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunom odulatory effects of cocaine and its metabolites on maternal and fetal immune systems. Subjects were recruited from an Investigational Revie w Board approved protocol, and biologic specimens were collected. For each subject peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by density gradient. Each PBMC sample was stimulated in separate wells with phytohemagglutinin and phrobol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Samples were radiolabeled and stimulation was measured. Cytokine measurements were made on the serum via ELISA assay techniques. In both the phorbol 12-myrisate 13-acetate and the phytohemagglutinin group, the PBMCs is olated from fetal cord blood in the cocaine-using group had significan tly (p < 0.05) decreased responses compared with control subjects. IL 1 and LL 2 concentrations were suppressed in the cocaine-exposed fetal serum compared with controls (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively). We have shown that in utero cocaine exposure results in a nonspecific suppression of fetal T lymphocyte response. The clinical consequences of prenatal cocaine-induced immunosuppression need to be further explo red.