Cytokine concentrations during the first days of life

Objective: To evaluate the cytokine concentration patterns during the first 5 days of life by measuring serum concentrations of type-1 cytokines, like interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and type-2 cytokines, like IL-4, as well as the receptors of IL-2 (sIL-2R) and IL-4 (sIL-4R) during the early neonatal period. Subjects and methods: Forty-two healthy term neonates were included in the study. Cytokine concentrations were measured in umbilical cord, in the 1st and 5th day after birth and compared with those in serum of 30 healthy adults. Results: IL-2 concentrations presented a decrease trend from umbilical cord to 5th day, while sIL-2R showed a significant elevation from umbilical cord to 5th day after birth. IL-4 concentrations did not differ significantly among umbilical cord, the 1st and the 5th day, while the sIL-4R showed the highest values in the 1st day afterbirth. Both IL-4 and sIL-4R concentrations in neonatal samples were elevated compared to adults. IFN-gamma concentrations increased significantly from umbilical cord to 5th day of life. Conclusion: Our findings indicate a dysregulation among IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma concentrations during the 1st day afterbirth, favoring a more precocious expression of IL-2 and IL-4 against IFN-gamma that seems to be ameliorated in the end of the 1st week of life. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.