High IL-13 production by human neonatal T cells: neonate immune system regulator?

Eur J Immunol. 2001 Nov;31(11):3394-402. doi: 10.1002/1521-4141(200111)31:11<3394::aid-immu3394>3.0.co;2-b.

Abstract

Neonates are highly susceptible to diseases and display biased type 2 immune responses, although no skewing to type 2 cytokines has been reported. In view of the emerging importance of IL-13 in type 2 inflammatory responses and clinical allergy, we analyzed IL-13 production by neonatal T cells. We found that, mainly CD8 T cells produced high levels of IL-13, while producing low levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma, upon primary and secondary stimulation. Our results point towards a possible immunoregulatory role of CD8 T cells in neonate responses. Moreover, they suggest that the abundance of IL-13 in the neonate immune system might account for the type 2 bias in neonates, providing a basis for the high disease susceptibility of newborns, for instance to allergic diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Fetal Blood / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Interleukin-13 / biosynthesis*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-13
  • Transcription Factor AP-1