Cord Blood Cytokines are Modulated by Maternal Farming Activities and Consumption of Farm Products during Pregnancy - The PASTURE-Study

Abstract

RATIONALE: Since traditional farming represents a unique model situation to investigate the relationship of early-life microbial exposure and allergy protection. associations between maternal farming exposures and cytokine production in cord blood mononuclear cells in a prospective multi-national birth cohort of 530 farm and 603 non-farm children and their families.METHODS: Supernatants from stimulated CB mononuclear cells were assessed for the production of IL-5, IFN-γ, IL-10 IL-12 and TNF-α by using ELISA-assays. Associations between maternal farming exposures and the porduction of cord blood cytokines were assessed by using a Tobit-regression model.RESULTS: Cord blood from farmer children showed significantly higher levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ production compared to cord blood non-farmer children, whereas IL-10, IL-12 and IL-5 levels did not differ between these study groups. Elevated TNF-α and IFN-γ levels in cord blood were associated with maternal exposures to farm animals, animal sheds, hay lofts, farm milk and farm milk products during pregnancy.CONCLUSIONS: Maternal exposure to farming activities and farm products during pregnancy modulated cytokine production patterns of their offspring at birth. RATIONALE: Since traditional farming represents a unique model situation to investigate the relationship of early-life microbial exposure and allergy protection. associations between maternal farming exposures and cytokine production in cord blood mononuclear cells in a prospective multi-national birth cohort of 530 farm and 603 non-farm children and their families. METHODS: Supernatants from stimulated CB mononuclear cells were assessed for the production of IL-5, IFN-γ, IL-10 IL-12 and TNF-α by using ELISA-assays. Associations between maternal farming exposures and the porduction of cord blood cytokines were assessed by using a Tobit-regression model. RESULTS: Cord blood from farmer children showed significantly higher levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ production compared to cord blood non-farmer children, whereas IL-10, IL-12 and IL-5 levels did not differ between these study groups. Elevated TNF-α and IFN-γ levels in cord blood were associated with maternal exposures to farm animals, animal sheds, hay lofts, farm milk and farm milk products during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal exposure to farming activities and farm products during pregnancy modulated cytokine production patterns of their offspring at birth.