Cytokines - Intracellular cytokine profile of cord and adult blood monocytes

Cord blood (CB) transplantations are associated with low graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), The pathophysiology of GVHD involves interaction and activa tion of different cell types, as lymphocytes and monocytes, and results in a cascade of cytokine production. After antigen or mitogen stimulation, CS monocytes release lower levels of cytokines than adult blood (AB) monocytes , In this study, the detection of intracellular IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha pro duced by monocytes was evaluated in response to tuberculin PPD to investiga te whether the reduced capacity of CB monocytes to secrete cytokines could be related to an impaired functional activity and to a particular phenotypi c profile. Results showed that the percentage of CD64(+) monocytes producin g intracellular IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha was significantly lower in CB and t hat the phenotypic profile of CB monocytes producing these cytokine (CD64()CD14(+)) was different to that of An monocytes (CD64(+)CD14(+), CD64(+)CD3 3(+) and CD64(+) CD45RO(+)), These results suggest that the lower capacity of CB monocyte populations to produce IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha might be due to a functional immaturity of CB monocytes at the cellular level as reflect ed by the different phenotypic profile of CB monocytes.