Summary:Allogeneic cord blood transplantation (CBT), especially from unrelated donors, is being increasingly used for treating paediatric patients with both malignant and nonmalignant disorders. Recent clinical and experimental evidence suggests that human cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) may acquire in utero a state of tolerance towards non-inherited maternal antigens (NIMA). In order to better define this phenomenon, we measured, by means of a limiting dilution assay (LDA), the frequency of NIMA-specific CTL precursors ( Over the past decade, allogeneic cord blood transplantation (CBT) from both related and unrelated donors has been used increasingly for the treatment of paediatric patients with both malignant and non-malignant disorders. 1-4 Previously published results demonstrate that, at least when the donor is a compatible relative, CBT recipients experience a

SUMMARYWe investigated natural immunity towards autologous EBV lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBV-LCL) in the cord blood. Cord blood lymphocytes (CBL) from 20 healthy neonates were examined together with three EBV and one EBV ÿ adult donors. We found that high frequencies of EBV-LCL-reactive cytotoxic lymphocytes, ranging from 1/190 to 1/12 205 were detectable in EBV donor. These data demonstrate that CBL are able to develop a strong innate immunity, directed against autologous EBV-infected cells, mediated by both NK cells and CD4T lymphocytes. This characteristic may be relevant for protection against viral infections in both neonates and patients given cord blood transplantation (CBT).

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We studied four groups of healthy term newborn infants: (1) 11 infants born by vaginal delivery; (2) 11 infants born by elective cesarean section; (3) 10 infants born by emergency cesarean section with labor, and (4) 10 infants born by complicated vaginal delivery. Total and differential leukocyte counts, cortisol blood level, and B lymphocyte subpopulations (SmIg, sIgD, sIgM, CD 19, CD20, CD21, CD23) were evaluated in cord blood samples from the four infant groups. Furthermore, the Pentothal blood level was measured in infants born by elective cesarean section and in their mothers at delivery. Higher total and differential leukocyte counts and cortisol blood levels were observed in group 1 and 4 infants as compared with group 2 and 3 infants. A significant correlation was observed between cortisol blood level and leukocyte counts. The percentages of positivity to cell surface markers of B lymphocyte subpopulations were significantly higher in infants born by elective cesarean section. A negative significant correlation of thiopentone with sIgM and CD21 was observed. These data indicate a significant influence of method of delivery and of thiopentone on B lymphocyte subpopulations.