Abstract
ABSTRACT: Nine premature infants who were either stillborn or who died shortly after delivery (gestational age, 24–32 wk), eight full-term infants who died during the first 3 postnatal wk, and four infants who died in the postneo-natal period were studied by immunohistochemistry for duodenal expression of secretory component (SC) and epithelial HLA class I and II determinants and for the presence of IgA-, IgM-, and IgG-producing immunocytes. Only small amounts of SC appeared before the 29th gestational wk, but thereafter it increased rapidly; 1 wk after birth, SC showed an adult distribution pattern. Epithelial class I was expressed throughout the period investigated, whereas class II (HLA-DR) determinants were absent on the duodenal villi until 1 wk after birth. HLA-DP and -DQ were not expressed by the epithelium. No IgA immunocytes were seen before 1 wk after birth, whereas a few IgM- and IgG-producing cells were present throughout the period studied. The intense epithelial HLA-DR expression from the 2nd postnatal wk, along with SC and the appearance of IgA immunocytes, suggests that the intestinal immune system is modulated in response to environmental factors shortly after birth.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rognum, T., Thrane, P., Stoltenberg, L. et al. Development of Intestinal Mucosal Immunity in Fetal Life and the First Postnatal Months. Pediatr Res 32, 145–148 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199208000-00003
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199208000-00003
This article is cited by
-
Safety and efficacy of adding postbiotics in infant formula: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pediatric Research (2024)
-
DMBT1 expression and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio during necrotizing enterocolitis are influenced by impaired perfusion due to cardiac anomalies
Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics (2022)
-
Secretory immunoglobulin A in preterm infants: determination of normal values in breast milk and stool
Pediatric Research (2022)
-
Decreased production of epithelial-derived antimicrobial molecules at mucosal barriers during early life
Mucosal Immunology (2021)
-
Active free secretory component and secretory IgA in human milk: do maternal vaccination, allergy, infection, mode of delivery, nutrition and active lifestyle change their concentrations?
Pediatric Research (2021)