Augmented Th17-type immune responses in preterm neonates exposed to histologic chorioamnionitis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2017

Publication Title

Pediatric research

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) is a placental inflammatory disorder that frequently precedes preterm delivery. HCA increases risk for long-standing inflammatory injury and may influence immune programming, particularly in preterm (PT) neonates. We hypothesized that HCA exposure is associated with an increased circulating frequency of proinflammatory, Th17-type responses.

METHODS: Placental cord blood was collected from HCA-exposed or control neonates (23-41 wk gestation). Frequencies of Th17 and T regulatory (Treg) cells and assessments of Th17-type features in CD4 and Treg cells were determined by flow cytometric analysis.

RESULTS:

Cord blood samples from 31 PT and 17 term neonates were analyzed by flow cytometry. A diagnosis of HCA in extremely PT (EPT, GA ≤ 30 wk) gestations was associated with the highest cord blood frequencies of progenitor (pTh17, CD4+CD161+) and mature (mTh17, CD4+CD161+CCR6+) Th17 cells. Preterm neonates exposed to HCA also exhibited elevated cord blood frequencies of IL-17+ Treg cells, as well as T cells with effector memory phenotype (TEM) that coexpressed Th17-type surface antigens.

CONCLUSION: Th17-type responses are amplified in preterm neonates exposed to HCA. We speculate that a Th17 bias may potentiate the inflammatory responses and related morbidity observed in preterm neonates whose immune systems have been "primed" by HCA exposure.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Case-Control Studies; Chorioamnionitis; Female; Fetal Blood; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immune System; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Inflammation; Interleukin-17; Phenotype; Placenta; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Th17 Cells; Young Adult

PubMed ID

27870827

Volume

81

Issue

4

First Page

639

Last Page

645

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