Immunology of maternal-fetal interactions in diabetes and mild hyperglycemia: passive transfer of immunereactive components by maternal blood and colostrum for the newborn

Abstract

Of the complications of diabetes, reduced immune response has been identified as an important factor and contributes to the increased infections in these patients and may lead to chronic inflammatory processes. Inflammation is regulated by various local and systemic biochemical signals. One of the most important mediators of these signals is a class of molecules called cytokines. They can be classified as pro or anti-inflammatory, and allow the body to respond quickly to an immune challenge by coordinating an appropriate immune response. In diabetes there is controversy about the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Some authors report that there is deviation to production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while others report an increase in both cytokines. In the literature no data were found on the cytokine profile in maternal blood, cord blood and colostrum of diabetic mothers. It is possible that immunologic patterns associated with changes in maternal glucose metabolism may affect via blood and colostrum, the development of the newborn immune system, and hence contribute to increased susceptibility to infections observed in children of diabetic mothers. So the purpose of this study will evaluate the immunophenotype of leukocytes and the profiles of Th1, Th2, Th3 and Th17 in maternal blood, umbilical cord blood and colostrum of diabetic mothers, and check the modulation of cytokines on the functional activity phagocytes of human blood and colostrum. (AU)