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Characterization of the ?? T-cell compartment during infancy reveals clear differences between the early neonatal period and 2 years of age.

ABSTRACT: ?? T cells are unconventional T cells that function on the border of innate and adaptive immunity. They are suggested to play important roles in neonatal and infant immunity, although their phenotype and function are not fully characterized in early childhood. We aimed to investigate ?? T cells in relation to age, prematurity and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Therefore, we used flow cytometry to characterize the ?? T-cell compartment in cord blood and peripheral blood cells from 14-day-, 2-year- and 5-year-old children, as well as in peripheral blood samples collected at several time points during the first months of life from extremely premature neonates. ?? T cells were phenotypically similar at 2 and 5 years of age, whereas cord blood was divergent and showed close proximity to ?? T cells from 14-day-old neonates. Interestingly, 2-year-old children and adults showed comparable V?2+ ?? T-cell functionality toward both microbial and polyclonal stimulations. Importantly, extreme preterm birth compromised the frequencies of V?1+ cells and affected the functionality of V?2+ ?? T cells shortly after birth. In addition, CMV infection was associated with terminal differentiation of the V?1+ compartment at 2 years of age. Our results show an adult-like functionality of the ?? T-cell compartment already at 2 years of age. In addition, we demonstrate an altered ?? T-cell phenotype early after birth in extremely premature neonates, something which could possible contribute to the enhanced risk for infections in this vulnerable group of children.

SUBMITTER: van der Heiden M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7003854 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Characterization of the γδ T-cell compartment during infancy reveals clear differences between the early neonatal period and 2 years of age.

van der Heiden Marieke M Björkander Sophia S Rahman Qazi Khaleda K Bittmann Julia J Hell Lena L Jenmalm Maria C MC Marchini Giovanna G Vermijlen David D Abrahamsson Thomas T Nilsson Caroline C Sverremark-Ekström Eva E

Immunology and cell biology 20191201 1

γδ T cells are unconventional T cells that function on the border of innate and adaptive immunity. They are suggested to play important roles in neonatal and infant immunity, although their phenotype and function are not fully characterized in early childhood. We aimed to investigate γδ T cells in relation to age, prematurity and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Therefore, we used flow cytometry to characterize the γδ T-cell compartment in cord blood and peripheral blood cells from 14-day-, 2-ye ...[more]

PMID: 31680329

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Dataset Information

Characterization of the ?? T-cell compartment during infancy reveals clear differences between the early neonatal period and 2 years of age.

Publications

Characterization of the γδ T-cell compartment during infancy reveals clear differences between the early neonatal period and 2 years of age.

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