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Bettin L, Darbellay J, van Kessel J, Scruten E, Napper S, Gerdts V. Distinct, age-dependent TLR7/8 signaling responses in porcine gamma-delta T cells. Mol Immunol 2023; 160:80-94. [PMID: 37393885 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Gamma-Delta T cells are a prominent subset of T cells in pigs. However, developmental changes, antigen recognition, cell migration, and their contributions to pathogen clearance remain largely unknown. We have recently shown that porcine γδ T cells express Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and that TLR7/8 stimulation can function as a co-stimulatory signal that complements cytokine-induced signals to enhance INFγ production. Nonetheless, the signaling pathways behind this increased cytokine responsiveness remained unclear. Here, we analyzed the signaling pathways by measuring cellular kinase activity and selective inhibition, confirming that the TLR7/8 expression by γδ T cells is indeed functional. Moreover, TLR downstream signaling responses showed a distinct age-dependency, emphasizing the importance of age in immune function. While the TLR7/8 co-stimulation depended on activation of IRAK1/4, p38 and JNK in adult-derived γδ T cells, γδ T cells from young pigs utilized only p38, indicating the existence of an alternative signaling pathway in young pigs. Overall, this data suggests that porcine γδ T cells could be able to recognize viral RNA through TLR7/8 and subsequently support the survival and activation of the adaptive immune response by cytokine production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Bettin
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Joseph Darbellay
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jill van Kessel
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Erin Scruten
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Scott Napper
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Volker Gerdts
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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2
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Glucose metabolism controls human γδ T-cell-mediated tumor immunosurveillance in diabetes. Cell Mol Immunol 2022; 19:944-956. [PMID: 35821253 PMCID: PMC9338301 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-022-00894-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an increased risk of cancer. The effect of glucose metabolism on γδ T cells and their impact on tumor surveillance remain unknown. Here, we showed that high glucose induced Warburg effect type of bioenergetic profile in Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, leading to excessive lactate accumulation, which further inhibited lytic granule secretion by impairing the trafficking of cytolytic machinery to the Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell-tumor synapse by suppressing AMPK activation and resulted in the loss of antitumor activity in vitro, in vivo and in patients. Strikingly, activating the AMPK pathway through glucose control or metformin treatment reversed the metabolic abnormalities and restored the antitumor activity of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. These results suggest that the impaired antitumor activity of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells induced by dysregulated glucose metabolism may contribute to the increased cancer risk in T2DM patients and that metabolic reprogramming by targeting the AMPK pathway with metformin may improve tumor immunosurveillance.
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Wang X, Zhang Y, Mu X, Tu CR, Chung Y, Tsao SW, Chan GCF, Leung WH, Lau YL, Liu Y, Tu W. Exosomes derived from γδ-T cells synergize with radiotherapy and preserve antitumor activities against nasopharyngeal carcinoma in immunosuppressive microenvironment. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003832. [PMID: 35105688 PMCID: PMC8808451 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Radiotherapy is the first-line treatment for patients nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but its therapeutic efficacy is poor in some patients due to radioresistance. Adoptive T cell-based immunotherapy has also shown promise to control NPC; however, its antitumor efficacy may be attenuated by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Exosomes derived from γδ-T cells (γδ-T-Exos) have potent antitumor potentials. However, it remains unknown whether γδ-T-Exos have synergistic effect with radiotherapy and preserve their antitumor activities against NPC in an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Methods γδ-T-Exos were stained with fluorescent membrane dye, and their interactions with NPC were determined both in vitro and in vivo. NPC cell deaths were detected after treatment with γδ-T-Exos and/or irradiation. Moreover, effects of γδ-T-Exos on radioresistant cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) were determined. The therapeutic efficacy of combination therapy using γδ-T-Exos and irradiation on NPC tumor progression was also monitored in vivo. Finally, the tumor-killing and T cell-promoting activities of γδ-T-Exos were determined under the culture in immunosuppressive NPC supernatant. Results γδ-T-Exos effectively interacted with NPC tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. γδ-T-Exos not only killed NPC cells in vitro, which was mainly mediated by Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) and death receptor 5 (DR5)/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) pathways, but also controlled NPC tumor growth and prolonged tumor-bearing mice survival in vivo. Furthermore, γδ-T-Exos selectively targeted the radioresistant CD44+/high CSCs and induced profound cell apoptosis. The combination of γδ-T-Exos with radiotherapy overcame the radioresistance of CD44+/high NPC cells and significantly improved its therapeutic efficacy against NPC in vitro and in vivo. In addition, γδ-T-Exos promoted T-cell migration into NPC tumors by upregulating CCR5 on T cells that were chemoattracted by CCR5 ligands in the NPC tumor microenvironment. Although NPC tumor cells secreted abundant tumor growth factor beta to suppress T-cell responses, γδ-T-Exos preserved their direct antitumor activities and overcame the immunosuppressive NPC microenvironment to amplify T-cell antitumor immunity. Conclusions γδ-T-Exos synergized with radiotherapy to control NPC by overcoming the radioresistance of NPC CSCs. Moreover, γδ-T-Exos preserved their tumor-killing and T cell-promoting activities in the immunosuppressive NPC microenvironment. This study provides a proof of concept for a novel and potent strategy by combining γδ-T-Exos with radiotherapy in the control of NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiwei Wang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yanmei Zhang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaofeng Mu
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chloe Ran Tu
- Computational and Systems Biology Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yuet Chung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sai Wah Tsao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Godfrey Chi-Fung Chan
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Hang Leung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu-Lung Lau
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yinping Liu
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wenwei Tu
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Golden TN, Simmons RA. Immune dysfunction in developmental programming of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:235-245. [PMID: 33526907 PMCID: PMC7969450 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-020-00464-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a common complication of pregnancy and increases the risk of the offspring developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) later in life. Alterations in the immune system are implicated in the pathogenesis of IUGR-induced T2DM. The development of the fetal immune system is a delicate balance as it must remain tolerant of maternal antigens whilst also preparing for the post-birth environment. In addition, the fetal immune system is susceptible to an altered intrauterine milieu caused by maternal and placental inflammatory mediators or secondary to nutrient and oxygen deprivation. Pancreatic-resident macrophages populate the pancreas during fetal development, and their phenotype is dynamic through the neonatal period. Furthermore, macrophages in the islets are instrumental in islet development as they influence β-cell proliferation and islet neogenesis. In addition, cytokines, derived from β-cells and macrophages, are important to islet homeostasis in the fetus and adult and, when perturbed, can cause islet dysfunction. Several activated immune pathways have been identified in the islets of people who experienced IUGR, with alternations in the levels of IL-1β and IL-4 as well as changes in TGFβ signalling. Leptin levels are also altered. Immunomodulation has shown therapeutic benefit in T2DM and might be particularly useful in IUGR-induced T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea N Golden
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca A Simmons
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Huang C, Xiang Z, Zhang Y, Li Y, Xu J, Zhang H, Zeng Y, Tu W. NKG2D as a Cell Surface Marker on γδ-T Cells for Predicting Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients With Unexplained Repeated Implantation Failure. Front Immunol 2021; 12:631077. [PMID: 33777016 PMCID: PMC7988228 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.631077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune tolerance to semi-allogeneic fetus is essential for a successful implantation and pregnancy. Growing evidence indicated that low cytotoxic activity of γδ-T cells, which is mediated by activation and inhibitory receptors, is important for establishment of maternal immune tolerant microenvironment. However, the correlation between receptors on peripheral blood γδ-T cells, such as NKG2D, CD158a, and CD158b, and pregnancy outcome in patients with unexplained repeated implantation failure (uRIF) remains unclear. In this study, the association between the expression level of these receptors and pregnancy outcome in patients with uRIF was investigated. Thirty-eight women with uRIF were enrolled and divided into two groups: successful group and failed group, according to the pregnancy outcome on different gestational periods. The percentage of NKG2D+ γδ-T cells in lymphocytes was significantly higher in uRIF patients who had failed clinical pregnancy in subsequent cycle, compared with those who had successful clinical pregnancy. However, there were no differences about the frequencies of CD158a+ and CD158b+ γδ-T cells between the successful and failed groups. The receiver operating characteristic curve exhibited that the optimal cut-off value of NKG2D+ γδ-T cells was 3.24%, with 92.3% sensitivity and 66.7% specificity in predicting clinical pregnancy failure in uRIF patients. The patients with uRIF were further divided into two groups, group 1 (NKG2D+ γδ-T cells <3.24%) and group 2 (NKG2D+ γδ-T cells ≥3.24%), based on the cut-off value. The live birth rate of patients in the group 1 and group 2 were 61.5 and 28.0%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curve further suggested that the frequency of NKG2D+ γδ-T cells in lymphocytes negatively correlated with live birth rate in patients with uRIF. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the frequency of peripheral blood NKG2D+ γδ-T cells among lymphocytes is a potential predictor for pregnancy outcome in uRIF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Huang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zheng Xiang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yongnu Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuye Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongzhan Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong Zeng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Reproductive Immunology for Peri-implantation, Shenzhen Zhongshan Institute for Reproduction and Genetics, Fertility Center, Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenwei Tu
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Lin F, Yang C, Feng T, Yang S, Zhou R, Li H. The Maternal-Fetal Interface in Small-for-Gestational-Age Pregnancies Is Associated With a Reduced Quantity of Human Decidual NK Cells With Weaker Functional Ability. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:633. [PMID: 33015028 PMCID: PMC7509437 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Small for gestational age (SGA) refers to a birth weight that is less than the 10th percentile of the mean weight of infants at the same gestational age. This condition is associated with a variety of complications, and a high risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in adulthood. Decidual natural killer (dNK) cells at the maternal–fetal interface have received significant research attention in terms of normal pregnancy or miscarriage; however, data relating to SGA are limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the characteristics and regulatory role of dNK cells at the maternal–fetal interface in SGA. Using immunofluorescence assays, we found that dNK cells maintained close contact with extra-villous trophoblasts, and the proportion of dNK cells in SGA decreased more than in appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Flow cytometry also showed that there was a significantly lower percentage of dNK cells in SGA (25.01 ± 2.43%) than in AGA (34.25 ± 2.30%) (p = 0.0103). The expression of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A on dNK cells and the secretion levels of both perforin and TGF-β1 from dNK cells were significantly higher in SGA than in AGA, while the cytotoxicity of dNK cells in SGA against K562 cells was attenuated. Compared to AGA, the functional ability of dNK cells in SGA showed significant functional impairment in promoting proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation in trophoblast cells or vascular endothelial cells. The abnormal function of dNK cells may affect fetal growth and development, and could therefore participate in the pathogenesis of SGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Lin
- Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuan Yang
- Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Feng
- Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rong Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Li
- Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Sproat T, Payne RP, Embleton ND, Berrington J, Hambleton S. T Cells in Preterm Infants and the Influence of Milk Diet. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1035. [PMID: 32582165 PMCID: PMC7280433 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm infants born before 32 weeks gestational age (GA) have high rates of late onset sepsis (LOS) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) despite recent improvements in infection control and nutrition. Breast milk has a clear protective effect against both these outcomes likely due to multiple mechanisms which are not fully understood but may involve effects on both the infant's immune system and the developing gut microbiota. Congregating at the interface between the mucosal barrier and the microbiota, innate and adaptive T lymphocytes (T cells) participate in this interaction but few studies have explored their development after preterm delivery. We conducted a literature review of T cell development that focuses on fetal development, postnatal maturation and the influence of milk diet. The majority of circulating T cells in the preterm infant display a naïve phenotype but are still able to initiate functional responses similar to those seen in term infants. T cells from preterm infants display a skew toward a T-helper 2(Th2) phenotype and have an increased population of regulatory cells (Tregs). There are significant gaps in knowledge in this area, particularly in regards to innate-like T cells, but work is emerging: transcriptomics and mass cytometry are currently being used to map out T cell development, whilst microbiomic approaches may help improve understanding of events at mucosal surfaces. A rapid rise in organoid models will allow robust exploration of host-microbe interactions and may support the development of interventions that modulate T-cell responses for improved infant health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Sproat
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Immunity and Inflammation Theme, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Pamela Payne
- Immunity and Inflammation Theme, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas D. Embleton
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Population Health Science Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Janet Berrington
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Immunity and Inflammation Theme, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Hambleton
- Immunity and Inflammation Theme, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) is usually defined as impaired growth and development of the fetus and/or its organs during gestation. Infants are defined small for gestational age (SGA), following IUGR, when the birth weight is below the 10th percentile. Pre-natal congenital infections caused by T. gondii, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and Treponema are associated with, and account for, approximately 5 to 15% of IUGR. On the other hand, SGA preterm infants are at increased risk of post-natal infection compared to their age-matched appropriately grown controls, in particular nosocomial infection, irrespective of the responsible pathogen. One possible mechanism is the retarded development in the immune system which has been described in association with IUGR. Indeed, SGA infants have a disproportionately small thymus and low leukocyte, lymphocyte and macrophage counts. However, immune therapies, including prophylactic intravenous immunoglobulins and GM-CSF have not proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of sepsis, and further research is required.
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Li J, Li H, Mao H, Yu M, Yang F, Feng T, Fan Y, Lu Q, Shen C, Yin Z, Mao M, Tu W. Impaired NK cell antiviral cytokine response against influenza virus in small-for-gestational-age neonates. Cell Mol Immunol 2013; 10:437-43. [PMID: 23872919 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2013.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Revised: 06/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The neonates, particularly small-for-gestational-age (SGA) ones, are susceptible to various microbial infections. Natural killer (NK) cells are critical components of host innate immunity system and the main source of the inflammatory cytokines, which provide critical protection during the early phase of viral infections before the development of an appropriate adaptive immune response. However, little is known about the antiviral effects of NK cells in neonates especially the SGA population. Herein, a prospective descriptive study was performed to determine the differences of NK cell immunity among adults, appropriate-for gestational-age (AGA) and SGA neonates. Adults have much higher NK cell number in peripheral blood than that in cord blood from neonates. In response to influenza virus stimulation, neonatal NK cells, especially SGA baby cells, expressed significantly lower antiviral cytokines including perforin, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-α responses than adult NK cells. In addition, the antiviral cytokine responses of NK cells were positively correlated with neonatal birth weight. Our data suggested that the depressed antiviral activity and less frequency of NK cells are likely to be responsible for the high susceptibility to microbial infection in neonates, at least in part. Improving the function of innate immunity may provide a new way to defend virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinrong Li
- The Joint Research Center of West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University and Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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