Cytokine profiles in 1-yr-old very low-birth-weight infants after enteral glutamine supplementation in the neonatal period

• Published in: Pediatric allergy and immunology 2009-08, Vol.20 (5), p.467-470
• Main Authors: Van Zwol, Annelies, Van Den Berg, Anemone, Nieuwenhuis, Edward E. S., Twisk, Jos W. R., Fetter, Willem P. F., Van Elburg, Ruurd M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; Communicable Diseases - epidemiology; Communicable Diseases - immunology; Cytokines - blood; Dermatitis, Atopic - epidemiology; Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; Dermatitis, Atopic - prevention & control; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Enteral Nutrition - utilization; Female; Follow-Up Studies; follow-up study; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; General aspects; glutamine; Glutamine - administration & dosage; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Male; Medical sciences; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th1/Th2 cytokines; Th2 Cells - immunology; Treatment Outcome; very low-birth-weight; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0905-6157; 1399-3038
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2008.00813.x

In a previous study, we found that glutamine‐enriched enteral nutrition in 102 very low‐birth‐weight (VLBW) infants decreased both the incidence of serious neonatal infections and atopic dermatitis during the first year of life. The aims of this follow‐up study were to determine whether these beneficial effects are attended by changes in Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles at age 1 yr. Furthermore, we studied changes in cytokine profiles during the first year of life in these VLBW infants. In total, 89 infants were eligible for the follow‐up study (12 died, 1 exclusion due to a chromosomal abnormality). Th1 (IFN‐γ, TNF‐ α and IL‐2) and Th2 cytokine (IL‐10, IL‐5, and IL‐4) profiles following in vitro whole blood stimulation were measured at 1 yr. Cytokine profiles were measured in 59/89 (66%) infants. Glutamine‐enriched enteral nutrition in neonatal period did not influence cytokine profiles at 1 yr. Cytokine profiles were not different in infants with and without allergic or infectious diseases. The beneficial effect of glutamine‐enriched enteral nutrition on the incidence of serious neonatal infections and atopic dermatitis during the first year of life is not related to changes in the Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles. Both Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles increased during the first year of life in this cohort of VLBW infants.