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. 1992 Mar;60(3):749–753. doi: 10.1128/iai.60.3.749-753.1992

Defective production of interleukin-6 in very small premature infants in response to bacterial pathogens.

A Yachie 1, N Takano 1, K Ohta 1, T Uehara 1, S Fujita 1, T Miyawaki 1, N Taniguchi 1
PMCID: PMC257549  PMID: 1541547

Abstract

In the present study, a whole-blood culture was employed to examine the ability of preterm and term newborn infants to produce interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to major bacterial pathogens such as group B streptococci, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Similarly, in response to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, a potent stimulant for monocyte cytokine production, appreciable levels of IL-6 activity in the stimulated whole blood from term newborns as well as adults was effectively induced by all of these pathogens. In contrast to that of term infants, the bacteria-induced IL-6 production of preterm infants, especially those born before 30 weeks of gestation, was somewhat decreased (P less than 0.01 for each pathogen). It was also demonstrated that IL-6 responses to lipopolysaccharide stimulation were reduced in preterm newborns (for term versus preterm newborns less than 30 weeks of gestation, P was less than 0.01). These findings imply some inherent abnormality of monocytes in preterm babies. The diminished IL-6 production may be partly responsible for the susceptibility of preterm newborn infants to bacterial infections.

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Selected References

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