Impairment of T helper and T regulatory cell responses at birth

Abstract

Innate immune responses are immature at birth. Furthermore, the function of T regulatory and Th17 cells is impaired. Th17 cells in association with Th1/Th2 cells may be involved in early immuno-modulation. Potent innate immune stimulation early in life can potentially contribute to protection from allergic diseases.

Maternal farm exposure modulates neonatal immune mechanisms through regulatory T cells

“…This may be explained by the requirement of a certain level of stimulation, no direct effect on Th1-lineage or more complex regulatory features than Th2/Th1 pathways in "overall farming". Supporting the latter, promising candidates are Th17 cells, which we previously demonstrated to be immature at birth compared to adult immune responses 24 . Thus, no significant differences between farmers and non-farmers children may be due to low IL-17 secretion at this early stage of maturation.…”

Immunological interactions between mother and child during pregnancy in relation to the development of allergic diseases in the offspring

“…CBMCs after mitogen and allergen stimulation [62,200]. The neonatal Th2-deviated allergen-specific immune responses are down regulated with age and the Th1-like immune responses are up regulated.…”

Microbial Origins of Chronic Diseases

“…In contrast, infants delivered by C-section exhibit a different GI bacterial community, dominated by Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. (1, 138), and C. difficile (104), which are associated with an increased risk of allergic disease development (117). A metaanalysis demonstrated a 20% increase in risk of development of asthma and allergies in children delivered by C-section compared with those delivered vaginally (130).…”