Immune cell subsets, cytokine and cortisol levels during the first week of life in neonates born to pre-eclamptic mothers

Abstract

Problem: To address the hypothesis that pre-eclampsia (PE) impacts the fetal immune system, we investigated the prevalence of distinct immune cell subsets along with plasma cortisol and cytokine levels in pre-term newborns of PE mothers.

Method of study: Cord blood and peripheral blood samples on the 1st, 3rd and 7th postnatal days of life were collected from 14 pre-term infants affected by PE and 14 non-PE pregnancies. We measured plasma cortisol and cytokine levels with immunoassays and assessed the prevalence of T, NK and DC subsets using flow cytometry.

Results: The prevalence of CD4+ cells was lower in PE infants, while that of memory T cells was higher. Myeloid DCs had a lower prevalence in PE neonates. Cytokine and cortisol levels were lower in PE neonates.

Conclusion: Our observations show that PE pregnancies are associated with altered newborn immune status during the first week of life.

Keywords: CD4; HLA-DR; cortisol; memory T cell; pre-eclampsia; pre-term neonate.