The Joint Research Center of West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University and Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, Chengdu, China.
Cell Mol Immunol. 2013 May;10(3):253-60. doi: 10.1038/cmi.2012.78. Epub 2013 Mar 25.
Preterm and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates are vulnerable groups that are susceptible to various microbial infections. Vγ9Vδ2-T cells are critical components of the host immune system and have been demonstrated to play an important role in the defense against viral infection in adults. However, the characteristics of Vγ9Vδ2-T cells in children, especially the preterm and SGA populations, are poorly understood. Here, we examined the frequency and antiviral function of Vγ9Vδ2-T cells in neonates, including preterm, SGA and full-term babies. When compared to adults, neonates had a significantly lower percentage of Vγ9Vδ2-T cells in the blood. Upon influenza virus stimulation, neonatal Vγ9Vδ2-T cells, especially from preterm and SGA babies, showed markedly decreased and delayed antiviral cytokine responses than those of adults. In addition, the antiviral responses of neonatal Vγ9Vδ2-T cells were positively correlated with gestational age and birth weight. Finally, a weaker expansion of Vγ9Vδ2-T cells by isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) was shown in neonates than the expansion in adults. Our data suggest that the depressed antiviral activity and decreased frequency of Vγ9Vδ2-T cells may likely account for the high susceptibility to microbial infection in neonates, particularly in preterm and SGA babies. Improving Vγ9Vδ2-T-cell function of neonates may provide a new way to defend against virus infection.
早产儿和小于胎龄儿（SGA）是易受各种微生物感染的脆弱群体。γ9δ2-T 细胞是宿主免疫系统的重要组成部分，已被证明在成人抵抗病毒感染中发挥重要作用。然而，γ9δ2-T 细胞在儿童，特别是早产儿和 SGA 人群中的特征尚不清楚。在这里，我们研究了 Vγ9Vδ2-T 细胞在新生儿中的频率和抗病毒功能，包括早产儿、SGA 和足月儿。与成人相比，新生儿血液中的 Vγ9Vδ2-T 细胞比例明显较低。流感病毒刺激后，与成人相比，新生儿 Vγ9Vδ2-T 细胞，特别是早产儿和 SGA 婴儿的抗病毒细胞因子反应明显降低且延迟。此外，新生儿 Vγ9Vδ2-T 细胞的抗病毒反应与胎龄和出生体重呈正相关。最后，与成人相比，IPP 对新生儿 Vγ9Vδ2-T 细胞的扩增作用较弱。我们的数据表明，抗病毒活性降低和 Vγ9Vδ2-T 细胞频率降低可能是导致新生儿，特别是早产儿和 SGA 婴儿易受微生物感染的原因。改善新生儿 Vγ9Vδ2-T 细胞的功能可能为抵抗病毒感染提供一种新方法。
