Clinical and Molecular Allergy (Sep 2006)

Mode of delivery and cord blood cytokines: a birth cohort study

  • DuBois Andrea M,
  • Delaney Mary L,
  • Laskey Daniel,
  • Liang Catherine,
  • Litonjua Augusto A,
  • Tzianabos Arthur O,
  • Onderdonk Andrew B,
  • Ruiz-Pérez Begoña,
  • Ly Ngoc P,
  • Levy Hara,
  • Gold Diane R,
  • Ryan Louise M,
  • Weiss Scott T,
  • Celedón Juan C

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-7961-4-13
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
p. 13

Abstract

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Abstract Background The mechanisms for the association between birth by cesarean section and atopy and asthma are largely unknown. Objective To examine whether cesarean section results in neonatal secretion of cytokines that are associated with increased risk of atopy and/or asthma in childhood. To examine whether the association between mode of delivery and neonatal immune responses is explained by exposure to the maternal gut flora (a marker of the vaginal flora). Methods CBMCs were isolated from 37 neonates at delivery, and secretion of IL-13, IFN-γ, and IL-10 (at baseline and after stimulation with antigens [dust mite and cat dander allergens, phytohemagglutinin, and lipopolysaccharide]) was quantified by ELISA. Total and specific microbes were quantified in maternal stool. The relation between mode of delivery and cord blood cytokines was examined by linear regression. The relation between maternal stool microbes and cord blood cytokines was examined by Spearman's correlation coefficients. Results Cesarean section was associated with increased levels of IL-13 and IFN-γ. In multivariate analyses, cesarean section was associated with an increment of 79.4 pg/ml in secretion of IL-13 by CBMCs after stimulation with dust mite allergen (P Conclusion Cesarean section is associated with increased levels of IL-13 and IFN-γ, perhaps because of lack of labor and/or reduced exposure to specific microbes (e.g., gram-positive anaerobes) at birth.