Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
Exposure of cord blood to Mycobacterium bovis BCG induces an innate response but not a T-cell cytokine response
Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, Volume 15, No. 11, Year 2008
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Despite routine vaccination with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) soon after birth, tuberculosis in babies and adults remains epidemic in South Africa. The immune responses of the naïve newborn child and how they are affected by vaccination with BCG are as yet not fully understood. Immunity during pregnancy and in healthy human newborns may be skewed toward type 2 cytokine production; however, it is type 1 cytokines that are required for protection against M. tuberculosis infection. To better understand neonatal cytokine responses prior to and following exposure to mycobacteria, we have collected cord blood and peripheral blood samples and evaluated the cytokine response following ex vivo incubation with BCG. Gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin 10 (IL-10), IL-12, and low levels of IL-13 and IL-5 but no IL-4 were secreted into the culture supernatant of cord blood mononuclear cells. Intracellular staining showed that IL-10 and IL-12 were produced by monocytes and that IFN-γ was produced by natural killer (NK) cells but not by CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. In contrast, in the peripheral blood samples collected from babies 13 weeks post-BCG vaccination, IFN-γ was detected within CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Taken together, the data suggest a central role for Th1 cytokines in naïve as well as BCG-vaccinated neonates in the protective immune response to tuberculosis. NK cell-derived IFN-γ produced in naïve neonates likely plays a key protective role via monocyte activation and the priming of a subsequent adaptive Th1 response. Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Watkins, Marcia L.V.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
South Africa, Johannesburg
National Health Laboratory Service
Semple, Patricia L.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Abel, Brian
South Africa, Observatory
South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Hanekom, Willem Albert
South Africa, Observatory
South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Kaplan, Gilla
United States, Newark
Public Health Research Institute
Ress, Stanley R.
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
South Africa, Observatory
Groote Schuur Hospital
Statistics
Citations: 31
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1128/CVI.00202-08
ISSN:
15566811
e-ISSN:
1556679X
Research Areas
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Locations
South Africa