Determination of T-cell subpopulations and intracellular cytokine production (interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and interferon-gamma) by cord blood T-lymphocytes of neonates from atopic and non-atopic parents

This report describes the results of a prospective study on immunological m arkers in cord blood for the prediction of allergic diseases in children. F irst we evaluated methodological aspects of the flow cytometric technique o n cord blood cytokine measurements. Subsequently, the T-cell subsets and pe rcentage of cytokine-producing cord blood T-helper (Th) and T-suppressor/cy totoxic lymphocytes of neonates from atopic and non-atopic parents were com pared. A group of 33 healthy, full-term newborn infants of whom 23/33 were at risk for atopy (i.e. having at least one parent with one or more atopic symptoms and positive specific immunoglobulin E [IgE] to at least one commo n inhalant allergen) was studied. A flow cytometric technique was used to a nalyze cord blood Teen subsets and to determine the percentage of interleuk in (IL)-2-, IL-4-, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-producing cord blood Th and T-suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes following stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin, The percentage of CD3 (T lymph ocytes), CD3(+) CD4(+) (Th lymphocytes), CD3(+) CD8(+) (T-suppressor/cytoto xic lymphocytes), CD19(+) (B lymphocytes), CD3(+) CD4(+) CD45RO(+) (memory Th lymphocytes), and CD3(+) CD4(+) CD45RA(+) (naive Th lymphocytes) cells w as unrelated to parental atopic status. PMA stimulation augmented the perce ntage of IL-2- and IFN-gamma-producing Th and T-suppressor/cytotoxic lympho cytes, whereas the number of IL-4-producing T lymphocytes remained very low or undetectable. No differences in the percentage of IL-2-, IL-4- and IFN- gamma-producing Th and T-suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes were found betwee n neonates from atopic and non-atopic parents. These results will be re-eva luated when the atopic status of the children at the age of 1 and 2 years c an be assessed.