School of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Immunology-Allergy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Indian J Pediatr. 2011 Oct;78(10):1234-8. doi: 10.1007/s12098-011-0400-6. Epub 2011 Mar 11.
To evaluate whether the mode of delivery (vaginal versus C-section) influences the levels of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells in cord blood and maternal peripheral blood and also to examine its relationship with plasma cortisol levels.
Newborns either born vaginally (n = 19) or via elective C- section (n = 20) and their mothers, as well as 20 healthy but not pregnant women, were included in the study. CD4+CD25+FOXP3 (Treg) cells were examined by flow cytometry. Total lymphocyte counts (TLC) and serum cortisol levels were also determined for all the groups.
The percentages of CD4+CD25+FOXP3 cells and the serum cortisol levels of infants born vaginally (p < 0.004 and p < 0.0001) and their mothers (p < 0.0001 for both) were found to be significantly higher than those of newborns born by C-section and their mothers. Positive correlations were seen between CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ cells (r = 0.741) and serum cortisol levels (r = 0.468). No relationship was observed between newborns delivered by C-section and their mothers (r = 0.022 for both).
This study suggests that mode of delivery affects cord blood Treg cells. Higher CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells of newborns and their mothers in vaginal delivery group and their relationship with serum cortisol levels suggest a stress phenomenon related to vaginal delivery.
评估分娩方式（阴道分娩与剖宫产）是否会影响脐带血和产妇外周血中 CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg 细胞的水平，并研究其与血浆皮质醇水平的关系。
本研究纳入了 19 名阴道分娩的新生儿、20 名择期剖宫产的新生儿及其母亲，以及 20 名健康未怀孕的女性。采用流式细胞术检测 CD4+CD25+FOXP3（Treg）细胞。还测定了所有组的总淋巴细胞计数（TLC）和血清皮质醇水平。
阴道分娩新生儿及其母亲（p<0.004 和 p<0.0001）和剖宫产新生儿及其母亲（均 p<0.0001）的 CD4+CD25+FOXP3 细胞的百分比和血清皮质醇水平明显更高。CD4+CD25+FOXP3+细胞与血清皮质醇水平之间存在正相关（r=0.741）。剖宫产新生儿与其母亲之间未见相关性（均 r=0.022）。
本研究表明，分娩方式会影响脐带血 Treg 细胞。阴道分娩组新生儿及其母亲的 CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg 细胞较高，且与血清皮质醇水平相关，提示与阴道分娩相关的应激现象。
