Elsevier

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 117, Issue 6, December 1990, Pages 961-965
The Journal of Pediatrics

Neonatal interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor: Cord blood levels and cellular production*

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(05)80145-3Get rights and content

In a prospective study, levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6) (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were measured in a blind fashion in cord blood plasma from 92 neonates by specific immunoassays, and were correlated with the clinical courses of the infants, including type of delivery and perinatal complications. Plasma IL-1β concentration was undetectable in infants born by normal vaginal delivery or elective cesarean section but was significantly increased in infants born after induced vaginal deliveries (142±68 pg/ml) or urgent cesarean section (290±21 pg/ml; both p<0.05 compared with normal deliveries). The IL-1β levels were elevated in infants with severe perinatal complications (282±116 pg/ml; p<0.001), whereas TNF and IL-6 levels were not related to these complications. Infants with isolated perinatal infectious complications had elevated levels of plasma IL-6 compared with those of sick neonates without infection (p<0.001). In contrast, TNF plasma levels and IL-1β production by cord blood leukocytes were decreased in infants with infectious complications alone (both p<0.05). These studies suggest that the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF in the cord plasma relate differentially to clinical complications in the perinatal period.

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    *

    Supported in part by National Institutes of Health grant No. HD-00850 (Dr. Miller: Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairmen, Inc., Pediatric Scientist Training Program Fellow).

    Presented in part, in abstract form, at the Second International Workshop on Cytokines, Hilton Head, S.C., Dec. 10–14, 1989.

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