The anti-inflammatory effect of an oral immunoglobulin (IgA-IgG) preparation and its possible relevance for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis.

An exaggerated release of inflammatory mediators has been implicated in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Oral administration of a human immunoglobulin preparation (serum IgA-IgG) has been demonstrated to be an effective prophylaxis for NEC. The aim of the present study was to examine the regulatory effect of a human IgA-IgG preparation on the release of inflammatory cytokines in human monocytes. Our results indicate that the immunoglobulin preparation inhibits TNF-alpha and IL-6 release in monocytes following stimulation with heat-inactivated Hib in a dose-dependent manner. This might have a biological relevance in infants receiving oral immunoglobulin prophylaxis for NEC, since modulation of the release of inflammatory mediators at the level of the gastrointestinal mucosa could interfere with the development of noxious sequelae of acute and/or chronic inflammation initiated by microbial pathogens or their toxins that finally lead to the pathologic changes associated with NEC.