Yonsei Med J.  2015 May;56(3):798-804. 10.3349/ymj.2015.56.3.798.

The Difference of Lymphocyte Subsets Including Regulatory T-Cells in Umbilical Cord Blood between AGA Neonates and SGA Neonates

• Yoon SH
• Hur M
• Hwang HS
• Kwon HS
• Sohn IS

• KMID: 2450356
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2015.56.3.798

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to compare the regulatory T cells in cord blood of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates with those of small for gestational age (SGA) neonates.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Umbilical cord blood was collected upon labor in 108 healthy full-term (between 37 and 41 gestational weeks) neonates, who were born between November 2010 and April 2012. Among them, 77 samples were obtained from AGA neonates, and 31 samples were obtained from SGA neonates. Regulatory T cells and lymphocyte subsets were determined using a flow cytometer. Student's t-test for independent samples was used to compare differences between AGA and SGA neonates.
RESULTS
Regulatory T cells in cord blood were increased in the SGA group compared with normal controls (p=0.041). However, cytotoxic T cells in cord blood were significantly decreased in the SGA group compared with normal controls (p=0.007).
CONCLUSION
This is the first study to compare the distribution of lymphocyte subsets including regulatory T cells in cord blood between AGA neonates and SGA neonates.

Keyword

Small for gestational age; cord blood; regulatory T-cell; lymphocyte subset

MeSH Terms

Biological Markers/metabolism
Female
Fetal Blood/*immunology
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant, Newborn/*blood
Infant, Small for Gestational Age/*blood
Lymphocyte Count
T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*metabolism
Biological Markers

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Flow cytometric detection of regulatory T cells. (A) A forward and side scatter histogram was used to define the lymphocyte population. (B) The expression of CD4 and CD25 in total lymphocytes was detected and compared with the negative isotype control, and different gates were drawn to define CD4+CD25+high cells. (C) This expression is shown as the geometric mean of fluorescence intensity of FoxP3+ in CD4+CD25+high cells.

• 

  Fig. 2 Regulatory T cells in cord blood of the appropriate and small for gestational age groups. Central bars indicate the mean values, and upper and lower bars indicate the range. The mean value of cord blood regulatory T cells showed a significant difference between AGA and SGA neonates (2.59% vs. 3.02%, p=0.041, Student's t-test). AGA, appropriate for gestational age; SGA, small for gestational age.

• 

  Fig. 3 Cytotoxic T cells in cord blood of the appropriate and small for gestational age groups. Central bars indicate the mean values, and upper and lower bars indicate the range. The mean value of cord-blood cytotoxic T cells was significantly different between AGA and SGA neonates (21.64% vs. 19.30%, p=0.007, Student's t-test). AGA, appropriate for gestational age; SGA, small for gestational age.

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