In vitro immunoglobulin response of fetal B-cells is influenced by perinatal infections and antibiotic treatment: a study in preterm infants

The aim of our study was to analyse the influence of perinatal infections a nd administration of antibiotics on B-cell activity in blood cell cultures of preterm infants. We studied spontaneous and Escherichia coli induced imm unoglobulin (Ig) secretion in 148 infants of 24 to 36 weeks of gestation: 5 3 healthy infants (Group I), 40 healthy infants receiving prophylactically antibiotics (Group II), 14 infants with intra-uterine infection (Group III) and 41 with nosocomial infection (Group IV). Spontaneous Ig secretion was significantly lower in neonates with intra-uterine infection (Group III) th an in healthy infants of Group I. Nosocomial infections in Group IV increas ed spontaneous Ig synthesis, but only in the first days after birth. E. col i stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells significantly increased Ig synthesis in healthy infants of Group I, whereas induced minimal Ig pro duction in infected infants of Groups III and IV. Antibiotics given as prev ention to Group II decreased Ig production in cell cultures as compared to healthy infants (Group I). Conclusion The results indicate that perinatal infections and administratio n of antibiotics depress immunoglobulin secretion in cell cultures. We sugg est that in vivo B-cell activity in infected preterm infants, and infants p rophylactically receiving antibiotics, could also be depressed and result i n decreased immunoglobulin production in these infants.