Fig. 1.

Myelomonocytic cell populations were isolated from cord blood by magnetic cell-sorting (MACS) technique on the basis of CD11b expression. CD11b⁺ cell fractions were cultured for 24 h and concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were estimated in the culture supernatants. Cord blood specimens were obtained from 27 neonates after preterm delivery (26–36 weeks gestation) with resistance to tocolysis, 15 neonates had an elective caesarean delivery at term without any labour (30–40 weeks gestation), 17 neonates delivered vaginally at term after induction of labour (38–42 weeks gestation) and 25 neonates delivered vaginally at term after the onset of normal spontaneous term labour (38–42 weeks gestation).