Cytokines and neonates

This review is a short synopsis of the roles cytokines play during fetal li fe, initiation of labor, and in neonatal immunity and diseases. Hematopoiet ic growth factors regulate the maturation of progenitors in fetal and neona tal hematopoietic organs. Cytokines act as extra-hematopoietic growth facto rs, modulators of fete-maternal tolerance and are involved in selective apo ptosis during tissue remodeling. Inter-regulation of cytokine networks is c ritical for normal function and maturation of neonatal host defenses. Antig en specific immunity develops later in life and neonates initially depend o n natural (innate) immunity. Cytokines regulate innate immunity and connect it with antigen specific adaptive immunity. Some cytokines have already fo und a place in routine NICU therapy (EPO and G-CSF), while diagnostic and t herapeutic uses of others are under investigation (TPO, TNF-alpha, etc.).