Impaired innate immune responses in human neonates

Published: June 9, 2009
Abstract Views: 139
PDF: 705
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Human newborns are at greater risk of infection than children and adults because of the immaturity of their immune system. Mononuclear phagocytes from the cord generate blunted responses to an array of toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and to physiologic stimuli of the inflammatory response. Neonatal deficiency of innate cellular immunity includes a decreased production of interferons, interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23, and IL-18, and other proinflammatory cytokines, an impaired type-1 response of macrophages to IFN-γ, the most potent macrophage-activating agent in vivo, and to lipopolysaccharide, the primary constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. This review will describe recent advances in understanding innate cellular immunity in human neonates. As we learn more about neonatal innate immunity, new therapeutic avenues may come into sight. Drug development efforts could be directed toward augmenting innate cellular immune responses to prevent and treat neonatal infections more accurately.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Citations

Supporting Agencies

How to Cite

Maródi, L. (2009). Impaired innate immune responses in human neonates. Hematology Meeting Reports (formerly Haematologica Reports), 2(10). https://doi.org/10.4081/hmr.v2i10.443