P025 Cytokine profile of healthy preterm and term cord blood and peripheral blood of septic newborns

Introduction Regardless of pregnancy, birth triggers a stress-induced pro-inflammatory response with an overall increase in cytokine production in the infant. Term labor may affect inflammatory cytokine concentrations in the mother, fetus and neonate. Preterm infants often experience a heightened pro-inflammatory response from the stress of birth and due to the immaturity of the endocrine system at preterm birth, the infant may be unable to maintain this inflammatory response under control, which may predispose it to sepsis. Our aim is to evaluate serum concentrations of IL-1 β , IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN- γ , IL-12p70, TNF- α and IL-17A in healthy preterm and term newborns and in newborns diagnosed with sepsis. Methods Cytokines were measured by cytometric bead array in cord sera from healthy preterm Results The concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8, IL-6, IL-1 β and IL-17A significantly depended on the mode of delivery, being higher in vaginal delivery than that in elective cesarean section. On the other hand, septic neonates presented significantly increased levels of all inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Regarding the Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and IL-4, low concentrations were detected in all groups, and INF-g was not detected in all samples tested. Equivalent levels of IL-17A were detected in Groups 2 and 3, and in septic newborns. Conclusion Term and preterm labor itself might constitute an inflammatory-like process, and the results of this study strengthen the suggestion that the mode of delivery influences cytokine levels. The results with septic newborns indicate that IL-6 and IL-10 are good indicators of sepsis. Financial Support: FAPESP (2009/54246-5, 2009/52515-9, 2009/54400-5).