Characterization of T Helper 1 and 2 Cytokine Profiles in Newborns of Mothers with COVID-19

• Published in: Biomedicines 2023-03, Vol.11 (3), p.910
• Main Authors: Moreira, André Luís Elias, Silva, Paulo Alex Neves da, Gomes, Rodrigo Saar, Santos, Mônica de Oliveira, Ito, Célia Regina Malveste, Barbosa, Lucas Candido Gonçalves, Souza, Paula Pires de, Peixoto, Fernanda Aparecida de Oliveira, Wastowski, Isabela Jubé, Carneiro, Lilian Carla, Avelino, Melissa Ameloti Gomes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Comorbidity; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cytokine storm; Developing countries; Fetuses; Flow cytometry; Health aspects; Immune response; Immune response (cell-mediated); Immune system; Infections; Infectious diseases; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 2; Interleukin 6; LDCs; Lymphocytes T; Medical research; mother; Mothers; Neonates; newborn; Pathogens; Pediatrics; SARS; Sepsis; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Statistical analysis; T cells; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Ventilators; Viral infections; γ-Interferon
• ISSN: 2227-9059; 2227-9059
• DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030910

An infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 greatly affects the pediatric population and is 3 times more prevalent in newborns than in the general population. In newborns, the overexpression of immunological molecules may also induce a so-called cytokine storm. In our study, we evaluated the expression of cytokines in newborns admitted to a neonatal ICU whose mothers had SARS-CoV-2 and symptoms of SARS. The blood of newborns of infected and healthy mothers was collected to identify their Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles, and via flow cytometry, the cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 were identified. Overexpression was observed in the Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles of newborns from infected mothers compared with the control group. Statistical analysis also revealed significant differences between the cellular and humoral responses of the infected group versus the control group. The cellular versus humoral responses of the newborns of infected mothers were also compared, which revealed the prevalence of the cellular immune response. These data demonstrate that some cytokines identified relate to more severe symptoms and even some comorbidities. IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 may especially be related to cytokine storms in neonates of mothers with COVID-19.