Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2021; 225(S 01): e41-e42
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1739797
Abstracts | DGPM

Comparison of the composition of fetal and maternal immune effector cells upon prenatal microbial infections during the second and third trimester of pregnancy

E Reuschel
1   Klinik St. Hedwig, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, Lehrstuhl der Universität Regensburg, Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Regensburg, Deutschland
,
S Barabas
2   Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene der Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Deutschland
3   Mikrogen, Regensburg, Deutschland
,
L Deml
2   Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene der Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Deutschland
3   Mikrogen, Regensburg, Deutschland
,
A Köninger
1   Klinik St. Hedwig, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, Lehrstuhl der Universität Regensburg, Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Regensburg, Deutschland
› Author Affiliations
 

Introduction The fetal human immune system is typically more immature than that of adults and its response to prenatal infections is poorly characterized. This study aimed to analyze and compare the immune cell composition (including T, B and NK cells) in umbilical cord blood of fetuses affected or not affected by bacterial infection between the 23rd and the 42nd gestational week, and in whole blood of the respective mothers.

Material and Methods The fetal and maternal immune status was analyzed by flow cytometry. The following cell parameters were measured: CD3+(whole T cell population)-, CD3+CD4+(T-helper cells), CD3+CD8+(cytotoxic T cells), CD19+(B cells), CD56+(NK cells), CD3+CD56+(NKT-like cells), CD3+CD4+CD8+double-positive cells and regulatory T-cells (CD25high and CD4+FOXP3+).

Results 90 umbilical cord blood samples showed differences in the immune cell composition depending on the gestational week and presence or absence of infection, and in comparison to that of the mother. Before the 34th gestational week without infection, neonatal and maternal blood differed significantly in the T (CD3+), NK (CD56+) and B (CD19+) cell populations, with significantly more T, but less B and NK cells in the mother. By contrast, in the presence of infection before the 34th gestational week the differences between child and mother in these cell populations were not significant. This is in part due to an increase in the total T cell (CD3+) population. After the 34th gestational week other cell populations differed significantly between child and mother: The level of cytotoxic T cells (CD8+) in the child were lower compared to that of the mother, but the fetal T-helper (CD4+), B (CD19+), NK (CD56+) and regulatory T-cells (CD25high) were consistently higher.

Discussion The adaptive immune system of the fetus is developing during pregnancy. In case of infection during pregnancy some of the immune cell populations appeared earlier, possibly allowing the fetus to react against microbial attacks. The higher percentage of regulatory T-cells in the fetus in early gestational weeks might reflect a suppression of an alloreaction against MHC of the mother and thus protect the child against the mother’s immune system.



Publication History

Article published online:
26 November 2021

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