Publications by authors named "Anina Schneider"
Infections are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns. The high susceptibility of newborns to infection has been associated with a limited capacity to mount protective immune responses. Monocytes and macrophages are involved in the initiation, amplification, and termination of immune responses.
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- Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and d-dopachrome tautomerase (DDT) are key pro-inflammatory cytokines that regulate immune responses, with DDT sharing similarities with MIF.
- A study involving 307 subjects found that both MIF and DDT levels are significantly higher in fetuses and newborns, peaking around postnatal day 4 before declining to adult levels.
- The research indicates a strong correlation between MIF and DDT concentrations across all ages and suggests that lower levels in very preterm infants may increase risks for conditions like bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
The vulnerability to infection of newborns is associated with a limited ability to mount efficient immune responses. High concentrations of adenosine and prostaglandins in the fetal and neonatal circulation hamper the antimicrobial responses of newborn immune cells. However, the existence of mechanisms counterbalancing neonatal immunosuppression has not been investigated.
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