CD4+IL13+T lymphocytes at birth and the development of wheezing and/or asthma during the 1st year of life

Background: Despite our knowledge that maternal inheritance influences the development of asthma in childhood, attempts to identify a clear-cut Th2-or iented cytokine production by T lymphocytes at birth have given conflicting results. The prognostic significance of these cells for asthma development later in life remains to be determined. Methods: We evaluated at the singl e cell level Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in 208 randomly selected cord bloo d mononuclear cell (CBMC) samples obtained from pregnant women (group A, n = 68 with diagnosed respiratory allergic disease; group B, n = 140, with no evidence of atopy), and prospectively followed newborns for 1 year. Result s: There was no difference in IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5 production at birth between both groups, whereas a correlation between CD4+IL13+ lymphocytes fr om CBMC samples derived from atopic mothers and the occurrence of wheezing and/or asthma during the 1st year of life was found. Conclusions: Our obser vations suggest that the intracellular cytokine profile of cord blood CD4cells, in terms of IL-13 production, could be considered a useful tool for a more accurate identification of newborns from atopic mothers who are at h igh risk of developing asthma. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.