Abstract
ABSTRACTS: Newborns are predisposed to neutropenia and thrombocytopenia during bacterial sepsis. The presence of peripheral cytopenias during overwhelming infection may be secondary to decreased bematopoietic growth factor production during states of increased demand. We therefore examined circulating levels of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and IL-3, production of G-CSF and IL-3 from unstimulated and stimulated mononuclear cells (MNC), expression of G-CSF and IL-3 genes during unstimulated and stimulated conditions, and equilibrium and binding of G-CSF receptors on mature effector peripheral blood cells of adults and neonates. Serum from cord and adult peripheral blood contained negligible amounts of both G-CSF (<50 pg/mL) and IL-3 (<5 pg/mL). Constitutive supernatant levels of G-CSF and IL-3 from cord and adult unstimulated MNC were also undetectable. However, there was a significant difference in G-CSF and IL-3 production from stimulated cord and adult MNC. Supernatants from stimulated adult MNC had significantly more G-CSF (p < 0.007) and IL-3 (p < 0.02). Additionally, Northern blot hybridization and densitometry of autoradiographs demonstrated significantly more G-CSF and IL-3 mRNA transcripts from adult than from cord MNC. Lastly, affinity, binding, and number of G-CSF receptors on cord and adult peripheral effector cells were equal. These data suggest that, during states of increased demand, cord MNC produce less G-CSF and IL-3 than do adult MNC and have an associated reduction in their respective mRNA transcripts. These findings may have implications in the pathogenesis of neonatal cytopenias during states of increased demand, such as sepsis.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cairo, M., Suen, Y., Knoppel, E. et al. Decreased G-CSF and IL-3 Production and Gene Expression from Mononuclear Cells of Newborn Infants. Pediatr Res 31, 574–578 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199206000-00007
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199206000-00007
This article is cited by
-
Cytokines in human milk: Properties and potential effects upon the mammary gland and the neonate
Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia (1996)