Umbilical Cord Blood Levels Research Articles

Iodine and Magnesium Levels in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood of Preeclamptic and Normal Pregnant Women

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between preeclampsia and iodine levels and magnesium concentration in the blood of subjects in the northeast Anatolia region where iodine deficiency is common. Blood specimens were obtained from 24 preeclamptic and 16 healthy pregnant women. Iodine levels in blood were determined by the Foss method based on the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. Serum protein-bound iodine (PBI) levels and magnesium concentration in maternal blood were lower in patients with severe preeclampsia compared to normal pregnant women (8.46 +/- 1.22 vs. 11.46 +/- 1.71 microg/dL, p < 0.001, 1.63 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.86 +/- 0.05 mg/dL, p < 0.001, respectively). Serum PBI levels and magnesium concentration in umbilical cord blood were higher in patients with severe preeclampsia than in normal pregnant women (8.84 +/- 1.9 vs. 7.33 +/- 1.07 microg/dL, p < 0.05, 2.48 +/- 0.03 vs. 2.02 +/- 0.01 mg/dL, p < 0.001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between the serum PBI levels in maternal blood and magnesium concentration in maternal blood in patients with severe preeclampsia (r = 0.41, p < 0.05). Thus, iodine may be one factor contributing to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Iodine supplementation may be effective therapy in preeclamptic in pregnant women.

Perfluoroalkane Acids and Fetal Growth

In the November issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, Apelberg et al. (2007) reported an inverse relationship between umbilical cord blood concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and ponderal index and head circumference in children delivered vaginally in Baltimore, Maryland. In the same issue, Fei et al. (2007) reported an inverse relationship between first trimester maternal blood PFOA (but not PFOS) concentration and birth weight in Danish infants born to normal-weight women. Although these studies do not necessarily support one another (Fei et al. also collected cord blood but did not report these results), they raise the important question of whether low-level exposure to perfluoroalkane acids might affect fetal growth. In both articles, the authors called attention to the inconsistency between these findings and those in experimental animal studies, in which fetal growth effects occur only at blood concentrations several orders of magnitude higher than were measured in human umbilical cord or maternal blood. The question was reasonably posed by both groups whether a confounder could be responsible for the observed associations. The Baltimore group (Apelberg et al. 2007) identified two candidate confounders that may explain their findings: diet and plasma volume. Perfluoroalkanesulfonamides, which may be metabolized to PFOS, have been used in grease- and water-repellant packaging for foods, particularly pizza, french fries, and other fried foods. The Canadian Total Diet Study (Tittlemier et al. 2006) detected perfluoroalkanesulfonamides in all foods tested, but the highest concentrations were found in pizza, microwave popcorn, egg breakfast sandwiches, french fries, chicken nuggets, and fish burgers. Fluorotelomer alcohols, which can be converted to the corresponding alkane acids, have been used in coatings for paper, including microwave popcorn bags. 8-2 Fluorotelomer alcohol can be converted atmospherically and metabolically to PFOA, and gavage treatment of pregnant mice with 8-2 fluorotelomer alcohol results in the appearance of PFOA in fetuses (Henderson and Smith 2007). Both 8-2 fluorotelomer alcohol and PFOA have been found in popcorn bags and in the vapor produced after cooking microwave popcorn (Begley et al. 2005; Sinclair et al. 2007). The pregnancies studied by Fei et al. (2007) occurred in 1996–2002, a period during which perfluorinated compounds were commonly used in fast-food packaging. The use of perfluorinated compounds in food packaging decreased some years before 2004–2005, the study period of Apelberg et al. (2007); however, PFOS and PFOA have long half-lives and may still have been present as markers of a high intake of fast-food. A high intake of fast food may in turn be a marker of poor nutrition. The Danish National Birth Cohort (Fei et al. 2007) included a food frequency questionnaire. It would be interesting to know if a relationship between nutrition and maternal blood perfluoroalkane acid concentration was detected. PFOA and PFOS repel fat and are distributed in body water, particularly plasma. Women with a reduced plasma or body water volumes would distribute the same body burden of perfluoroalkane acids in a smaller space, producing higher perfluoroalkane acid concentrations. Fat-free body mass and total body water volumes are important predictors of birth weight (Butte et al. 2003; Lederman et al. 1999; Mardones-Santander et al. 1998; Sanin Aguirre et al. 2004), giving rise to the possibility that higher maternal blood (and therefore fetal blood) concentrations of PFOS and PFOA are markers of reduced plasma or total body water volumes, producing an apparent inverse association between the perfluoroalkane acid concentrations and fetal growth. A reasonable next step in addressing the question of whether perfluoroalkane acids (at current human blood concentrations) play a role in fetal growth will be studies in which maternal nutrition and body composition, as opposed to body weight, are considered as possible confounders.

Editor’s Choice

Editor’s Choice

Longitudinal Study of Prenatal and Postnatal Lead Exposure and Early Cognitive Development in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia: A Preliminary Results of Cord Blood Lead Levels

Extensive data shows a direct link between low-level lead exposure during early development and deficits in neurobehavioral-cognitive performance evident late in childhood through adolescence. Our previous studies confirmed the transfer of lead from the mother to the fetus as well as the effect of low lead exposure on neuropsychological behavior in school children. Such results led us to design a longitudinal survey to evaluate the effect of prenatal and/or postnatal lead exposure on early cognitive development among selected group of children from birth to 2 years of age. During the first stage of this study (between March and July 2004), we measured lead levels in 653 umbilical cord blood samples taken from healthy Saudi mothers delivering at King Khalid Hospital, Al-Kharj. This gave a good opportunity to look at the prevalence of increased blood lead levels in umbilical cord blood and to identify risk factors for prenatal lead exposure. The mean cord lead levels were 2.21 +/- 1.691 microg/dl in the range of 0.284-17.276 microg/dl. Only 1.23% of the newborns had blood lead levels >10 microg/dl, the Center for Disease Control level of concern. To investigate risk factors affecting cord blood lead levels, only subjects with lead levels above the 75th percentile (2.475 microg/dl) were selected in the multiple regression models. We observed that cord blood lead levels were significantly influenced by maternal age, the location of residence and intake of prenatal supplements. Controlling for newborn's head circumferences confounders, it was found that cord blood lead levels were significantly and negatively associated with newborn's head circumference (beta = -0.158, p = 0.036). The negative association was seen between intake of prenatal supplements and cord blood lead levels emphasizing the role of prenatal supplementations during pregnancy. The significant reductions in newborns, head circumferences due to lead exposure may have serious implications for their future performance and achievement. This study reveals that even at low prenatal lead exposure, all possible measures to inspect lead sources in our environment and reduce lead exposure should be taken.

Measuring Angiogenic Cytokines, Circulating Endothelial Cells, and Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Peripheral Blood and Cord Blood: VEGF and CXCL12 Correlate with the Number of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Peripheral Blood

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are thought to play an important role in the vascularization of damaged tissues and cancers. These cells are also required for tissue-engineered blood vessels and to help skin substitutes revascularize more efficiently. A standard approach to the phenotyping and enumeration of CEC and EPC is key to the development of new therapies, and the identification of biomarkers within the blood that regulate their levels may be important for the treatment of cancer. We have devised an improved multiparameter flow cytometric assay for CEC and circulating EPC enumeration. This assay uses antibodies recognizing CD133 and CD34 to identify EPC and CEC, respectively, and incorporates specific markers CD144 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) for both CEC and EPC cells. In peripheral blood (PB), mean CEC numbers were 55 +/- 95 mL(-1) and mean EPC numbers were 44 +/- 58 mL(-1) (n = 60). We also found a significant correlation of both plasma VEGF (r = 0.90, p < 0.001) and CXCL12 (r = 0.84, p < 0.001) with EPCs, but not CECs. The cytokines also correlated with each other (r = 0.85, p < 0.001). In umbilical cord blood (UCB) we found on average 13 times more CEC (719 +/- 338 mL(-1)) and 7 times more EPC (299 +/- 245 mL(-1)) than in PB. However, serum VEGF and CXCL12 levels in UCB did not correlate with either EPC or CEC numbers. These results suggest a major role for VEGF and CXCL12 in the control of marrow-derived EPCs in adult PB and provide normal data for comparison with patient populations.

Guest Editorial: Biomarkers of Perfluorinated Chemicals and Birth Weight

Guest Editorial: Biomarkers of Perfluorinated Chemicals and Birth Weight

Transplacental transfer of cobalt and chromium in patients with metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty

Metal-on-metal bearings are being increasingly used in young patients. The potential adverse effects of systemic metal ion elevation are the subject of ongoing investigation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether cobalt and chromium ions cross the placenta of pregnant women with a metal-on-metal hip resurfacing and reach the developing fetus. Whole blood levels were estimated using high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Our findings showed that cobalt and chromium are able to cross the placenta in the study patients with metal-on-metal hip resurfacings and in control subjects without any metal implants. In the study group the mean concentrations of cobalt and chromium in the maternal blood were 1.39 microg/l (0.55 to 2.55) and 1.28 microg/l (0.52 to 2.39), respectively. The mean umbilical cord blood concentrations of cobalt and chromium were comparatively lower, at 0.839 microg/l (0.42 to 1.75) and 0.378 microg/l (0.14 to 1.03), respectively, and this difference was significant with respect to chromium (p < 0.05). In the control group, the mean concentrations of cobalt and chromium in the maternal blood were 0.341 microg/l (0.18 to 0.54) and 0.199 microg/l (0.12 to 0.33), and in the umbilical cord blood they were 0.336 microg/l (0.17 to 0.5) and 0.194 microg/l (0.11 to 0.56), respectively. The differences between the maternal and umbilical cord blood levels in the controls were marginal, and not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The mean cord blood level of cobalt in the study patients was significantly greater than that in the control group (p < 0.01). Although the mean umbilical cord blood chromium level was nearly twice as high in the study patients (0.378 microg/l) as in the controls (0.1934 microg/l), this difference was not statistically significant. (p > 0.05) The transplacental transfer rate was in excess of 95% in the controls for both metals, but only 29% for chromium and 60% for cobalt in study patients, suggesting that the placenta exerts a modulatory effect on the rate of metal ion transfer.

Surfactant Protein D Levels in Umbilical Cord Blood and Capillary Blood of Premature Infants. The Influence of Perinatal Factors

Surfactant Protein D Levels in Umbilical Cord Blood and Capillary Blood of Premature Infants. The Influence of Perinatal Factors

Neurokinin B levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood in preeclamptic and normal pregnancies

Neurokinin (NK) B has been recently demonstrated to be secreted by the placenta in preeclampsia suggesting it may modulate pathophysiological events of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether NKB is the circulating factor associated with preeclampsia or not. In 22 preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women, the peripheral and umbilical cord blood NKB levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. The NKB levels in women with preeclampsia were 0.70 (0.53-0.92) nmol/L in peripheral blood and 1.92 (1.42-2.35) nmol/L in umbilical cord blood. In normotensive pregnant women, NKB levels were 0.43 (0.29-0.61) nmol/L and 0.14 (0.07-0.33), respectively. Significantly higher levels of NKB were measured in preeclamptic women compared with normotensive pregnant women in umbilical cord blood. These results suggest that NKB enters both fetal and maternal circulation and may modulate fetoplacental hemodynamics.

Acid–base balance of umbilical artery blood of liveborn piglets at birth and its relation with factors affecting delivery of individual piglets

In the limited number of studies that reported on the relation between factors affecting birth of individual piglets and acid–base balance values at birth, predominantly simple correlation coefficients have been used. The aim of the present study was to analyse the relation between factors affecting delivery of individual liveborn piglets and acid–base balance values (pH, p C O 2 , HCO 3 − and BE ecf) at birth. In total 201 piglets originating from 44 litters were used for the collection of blood samples from the umbilical artery immediately after birth, preferably in the period of apnea. Blood samples were analysed with the iStat ® Portable Clinical Analyser. Significantly lower pH, HCO 3 −, BE ecf and significantly higher p C O 2 levels were found in posteriorly presented piglets, independently of the condition of the umbilical cord, birth weight and cumulative birth interval/rank. Independently of presentation, birth weight and rank, piglets born with ruptured umbilical cords showed significantly lower pH values. Next to that, increasing birth weights resulted in increasing HCO 3 − and BE ecf values at birth, independently of presentation, condition of the umbilical cord and cumulative birth interval/rank. Both an increase in cumulative birth interval and in rank was associated with a significant decrease of pH, HCO 3 −, BE ecf and increase of p C O 2 levels in umbilical cord blood at birth. Together these results demonstrate for the first time that a clear relation exists between (factors affecting) the progress of delivery and acid–base balance values in a polytocous species like the pig.

Surfactant Protein D Levels in Umbilical Cord Blood and Capillary Blood of Premature Infants. The Influence of Perinatal Factors

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a collectin that plays an important role in the innate immune system and takes part in the surfactant homeostasis by regulating the surfactant pool size. The aims of this study were to investigate the values of SP-D in umbilical cord blood and capillary blood of premature infants and to relate the levels to perinatal conditions. A total of 254 premature infants were enrolled in the present study. Umbilical cord blood was drawn at the time of birth and capillary blood at regular intervals throughout the admission. The concentration of SP-D in umbilical cord blood and capillary blood was measured using ELISA technique. The median concentration of SP-D in umbilical cord blood was twice as high as in mature infants, 769 ng/mL (range 140-2,551), with lowest values in infants with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and rupture of membranes (ROM). The median concentration of SP-D in capillary blood day 1 was 1,466 ng/mL (range 410-5,051 ng/mL), with lowest values in infants born with ROM and delivered vaginally. High SP-D levels in umbilical cord blood and capillary blood on day 1 were found to be more likely in infants in need for respiratory support or surfactant treatment and susceptibility to infections. We conclude that SP-D concentrations in umbilical cord blood and capillary blood in premature infants are twice as high as in mature infants and depend on several perinatal conditions. High SP-D levels in umbilical cord blood and capillary blood on day 1 were found to be related to increased risk of RDS and infections.

Reproducibility of assays for steroid hormones, prolactin and insulin-like growth factor-1 in umbilical cord blood

We assessed the reproducibility of measurements of plasma hormone and binding protein levels in umbilical cord blood collected from 30 male and female babies. They were delivered as singleton births from full-term pregnancies (gestational age >or= 37 weeks) in a cord blood donation programme. We assayed three plasma replicates from each cord blood sample at two points in time. Plasma oestradiol, unconjugated oestriol, testosterone, progesterone, prolactin, sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels were measured in duplicates in the same batch (batch 1). In addition, another set of assays was conducted for each cord blood 1 year apart in a different batch (batch 2). Means and standard deviations for each hormone and binding protein were similar in replicates assayed in batch 1 and 2. Pearson's correlation coefficients were 0.9 or higher in duplicates assayed in batch 1. The correlation coefficients were between 0.77 and 0.96 for between-batch assays. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were higher than 0.9 for assay of SHBG [95% CI 0.92, 1.0] and progesterone [95% CI 0.87, 0.97] and between 0.8 and 0.9 for assay of oestradiol, unconjugated oestriol, prolactin, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3. The lowest ICC value was found for testosterone (ICC = 0.74; [95% CI 0.56, 1.0]). These data indicate a high reproducibility of cord blood hormone measurements; minimal differences were observed between the calibrated and the original regression coefficients for the association of hormones/binding proteins with percent of CD34+ cells in mononuclear cells.

Maternal venous procalcitonin levels do not correlate with umbilical cord blood and venous blood concentrations in the neonate

To compare procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations between maternal blood and levels in umbilical cord or venous blood of neonates who were born with or without infection. Forty-six women with singleton pregnancies, complicated by premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery and/or chorioamnionitis, were enrolled in this study. The study group comprised 15 patients and their infected newborns. The control group consisted of 31 women and their healthy newborns. We compared PCT concentrations between maternal, umbilical cord and neonatal serum, in both study and control groups. Additionally, PCT levels were compared between the corresponding compartments. PCT concentrations in the umbilical cord and venous blood in infected newborns, but not in non-infected neonates, were significantly higher than maternal serum PCT levels. PCT concentrations of mothers who delivered infected newborns were comparable to those in the controls. However, PCT concentrations in the umbilical cord and in the venous blood of the infected newborns were higher than in healthy newborns. Measurement of maternal PCT concentration during labor does not contribute to early prediction of infection in the neonate. However, umbilical cord PCT concentrations, as well as its neonatal venous levels on the second day of life, seem to be related to intrauterine infection, and may be a useful tool in the diagnosis of early neonatal infection.

Surfactant Protein D in Newborn Infants: Factors Influencing Surfactant Protein D Levels in Umbilical Cord Blood and Capillary Blood

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a collectin that plays an important role in the innate immune system. The role of SP-D in the metabolism of surfactant is as yet quite unclear. The aims of this study were to establish normal values of SP-D in the umbilical cord blood and capillary blood of mature newborn infants and to assess the influence of perinatal conditions on these levels. A total of 458 infants were enrolled in the present study. Umbilical cord blood was drawn at the time of birth and capillary blood at age 4 to 10 d. The concentration of SP-D in umbilical cord blood and capillary blood was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The median concentration of SP-D in umbilical cord blood was 392.1 ng/mL and was found to be influenced by maternal smoking and labor. The median concentration of SP-D in capillary blood was 777.5 ng/mL and was found to be influenced by the mode of delivery, the highest levels being observed in infants born by cesarean section. It was concluded that SP-D concentrations in umbilical cord blood and capillary blood are highly variable and depend on several perinatal conditions. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effect of respiratory distress and infection on SP-D concentrations.

Umbilical cord blood and neonatal endothelin-1 levels in preterm newborns with and without respiratory distress syndrome

Increased pulmonary vascular resistance in preterm newborn infants with respiratory distress syndrome is suggested, and endothelin-1 plays an important role in pulmonary vascular reactivity in newborns. We determined umbilical cord blood and neonatal (second sample) levels of endothelin-1 in 18 preterm newborns with respiratory distress syndrome who had no clinical or echocardiographic diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and 22 without respiratory distress syndrome (gestational ages: 31.4 +/- 1.6 and 29.3 +/- 2.3 weeks, respectively). Umbilical cord blood and a second blood sample taken 18 to 40 h after birth were used for endothelin-1 determination by enzyme immunoassay. Median umbilical cord blood endothelin-1 levels were similar in both groups (control: 10.9 and respiratory distress syndrome: 11.4 pg/mL) and were significantly higher than in the second sample (control: 1.7 pg/mL and respiratory distress syndrome: 3.5 pg/mL, P < 0.001 for both groups). Median endothelin-1 levels in the second sample were significantly higher in children with respiratory distress syndrome than in control infants (P < 0.001). There were significant positive correlations between second sample endothelin-1 and Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology and Perinatal Extension II (r = 0.36, P = 0.02), and duration of mechanical ventilation (r = 0.64, P = 0.02). A slower decline of endothelin-1 from birth to 40 h of life was observed in newborns with respiratory distress syndrome when compared to controls. A significant correlation between neonatal endothelin-1 levels and some illness-severity signs suggests that endothelin-1 plays a role in the natural course of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm newborns.

Maternal and umbilical cord blood levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, and essential trace elements in Arctic Canada

Maternal and umbilical cord blood levels of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and the trace elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) are reported for Inuit, Dene/Métis, Caucasian, and Other nonaboriginal participants from Arctic Canada. This is the first human tissue monitoring program covering the entire Northwest Territories and Nunavut for multiple contaminants and establishes a baseline upon which future comparisons can be made. Results for chlorinated organic pesticides and PCBs for these participants have been reported elsewhere. Between May 1994 and June 1999, 523 women volunteered to participate by giving their written informed consent, resulting in the collection of 386 maternal blood samples, 407 cord samples, and 351 cord:maternal paired samples. Geometric mean (GM) maternal total mercury (THg) concentrations ranged from 0.87 μg/L (SD=1.95) in the Caucasian group of participants ( n = 1 3 4 ) to 3.51 μg/L (SD=8.30) in the Inuit group ( n = 1 4 6 ). The GM of the Inuit group was 2.6-fold higher than that of the Dene/Métis group (1.35 μg/L, SD=1.60, n = 9 2 ) and significantly higher than those of all other groups ( P<0.0001). Of Inuit women participants, 3% ( n = 4 ) were within Health Canada's level of concern range (20–99 μg/L) for methylmercury (MeHg) exposure. Of Inuit and Dene/Métis cord samples, 56% ( n = 9 5 ) and 5% ( n = 4 ), respectively, exceeded 5.8 μg/L MeHg, the revised US Environmental Protection Agency lower benchmark dose. GM maternal Pb was significantly higher in Dene/Métis (30.9 μg/L or 3.1 μg/dL; SD=29.1 μg/L) and Inuit (31.6 μg/L, SD=38.3) participants compared with the Caucasian group (20.6 μg/L, SD=17.9) ( P<0.0001). Half of all participants were smokers. GM blood Cd in moderate smokers (1–8 cigarettes/day) and in heavy smokers (>8 cigarettes/day) was 7.4-fold higher and 12.5-fold higher, respectively, than in nonsmokers. The high percentage of smokers among Inuit (77%) and Dene/Métis (48%) participants highlights the need for ongoing public health action directed at tobacco prevention, reduction, and cessation for women of reproductive age. Pb and THg were detected in more than 95% of all cord blood samples, with GMs of 21 μg/L and 2.7 μg/L, respectively, and Cd was detected in 26% of all cord samples, with a GM of 0.08 μg/L. Cord:maternal ratios from paired samples ranged from 0.44 to 4.5 for THg, from 0.5 to 10.3 for MeHg, and 0.1 to 9.0 for Pb. On average, levels of THg, MeHg, and Zn were significantly higher in cord blood than in maternal blood ( P<0.0001), whereas maternal Cd, Pb, Se, and Cu levels were significantly higher than those in cord blood ( P<0.0001). There was no significant relationship between methylmercury and selenium for the range of MeHg exposures in this study. Ongoing monitoring of populations at risk and traditional food species, as well as continued international efforts to reduce anthropogenic sources of mercury, are recommended.

273 Mannose Binding Lectin in Mothers and Infants: The Mimi-Study

Introduction: Functional Mannose Binding Lectin (f-MBL) may play an important role in the immune system of the neonate. No studies have been done in mothers and their infants at delivery involving f-MBL. Therefore, it is unknown if f-MBL in umbilical cord blood (UCB) is related to maternal f-MBL.Aims of study: To determine the relation between f-MBL in mother and child at birth and to compare arterial and venous UCB f-MBL levels.Materials and methods: The levels of f-MBL in arterial UCB of term infants delivered by elective Caesarean Section and in venous blood of the mothers sampled just before the procedure, were measured with a one-step haemolytic assay. In a subgroup of infants, both arterial and venous UCB was obtained. Statistical analysis was done by Wilcoxon signed rank test, Spearmans Rho test and paired T-test.Results: 48 Paired mother-infant samples, including two bi-amniotic, bi-chorial twins, were obtained. The median f-MBL level (range) was higher in mothers than in arterial UCB: 1,016 (0,121- 4,253) microgr/ml and 0,701 (0,045–2,359) microgr/ml respectively (p=0,002). There is a significant correlation (R2 =0,16, p=0,0007) between maternal and UCB f-MBL levels. In 3 mothers with f-MBL deficiency, normal f-MBL levels in UCB were found. One pair of twins had different f-MBL levels (2,031 and 1,096 microgr/ml respectively). In 14 infants, f-MBL was measured both in arterial and venous UCB. Arterial levels are slightly lower than venous levels, but the difference is not significant (p=0,2).Conclusions: The f-MBL level in UCB of term infants is significantly lower than the f-MBL level of their mothers. There is a weak correlation between maternal and UCB f-MBL levels. There is no significant difference between arterial and venous UCB f-MBL. UCB f-MBL seems, at least partly, derived from the feto-placental unit.

Identification of kynurenine pathway enzyme mRNAs and metabolites in human placenta: Up-regulation by inflammatory stimuli and with clinical infection

The purpose of this study was to determine whether placental-derived kynurenines (neuroactive metabolites that are derived from tryptophan) contributes to infection-mediated fetal cerebral injury. Placentae and cord blood were obtained from term deliveries (n = 16) and preterm deliveries with or without intrauterine bacterial infection (n = 8 per group). We investigated whether the placenta expressed messenger RNAs of kynurenine metabolite-forming enzymes, the effects of infection in vivo on the expression of these enzymes by the placenta, the in vitro effects of bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide on expression and kynurenine metabolite output by the placenta, and the kynurenine metabolite levels in umbilical cord blood. Placentae expressed messenger RNA of tryptophan-degrading enzymes and synthesized several compounds. The expression of several enzymes increased significantly in placentae that were exposed to infection and/or lipopolysaccharide. Lipopolysaccharide also induced significant increases in placental kynurenine and quinolinic acid output. Kynurenine and quinolinic acid in cord blood of fetuses who were exposed to infection were elevated significantly. Inflammatory mediated release of kynurenines from placentae exposes the fetus to significant amounts of potentially neurotoxic substances.

Assessment of maternal–fetal status of some essential trace elements in pregnant women in late gestation: relationship with birth weight and placental weight

Objective: The status of the essential trace elements copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se) and molybdenum (Mo) has been investigated in maternal and umbilical cord blood in control, uncomplicated pregnancies at term, and the possibility assessed of a relationship between blood levels of these trace elements and newborn weight and placental weight. Fetal–maternal ratios of the elements were also computed to establish baseline values for the Kuwaiti obstetric population.Methods: Blood samples were collected from a maternal vein, the umbilical artery and umbilical vein of normal pregnant women at the time of spontaneous delivery or Cesarean section, and the concentrations of various trace elements determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Results: The concentration of Cu, Fe, Mo, Se and Zn averaged 2406.1, 3252.1, 11.6, 107.3 and 696.2 μg/l, respectively, in maternal venous blood in the pregnant women (n = 39) at term. Umbilical venous/maternal venous ratios of Cu, Fe, Mo, Se and Zn averaged 0.32, 1.96, 1.03, 0.83 and 1.55, respectively. Neonatal birth weight did not correlate with maternal blood levels of the trace elements (p > 0.05) in the mother–child pairs studied. However, neonatal weight correlated negatively (p < 0.05) with umbilical venous Cu level. Placental weight correlated positively (p < 0.05) with Fe and Mo levels and negatively with Zn level in umbilical venous blood.Conclusions: Our results indicate an active placental transport for Fe and Zn, while Cu, Mo and Se appear to be exchanged passively between mother and fetus. Evaluation of Fe, Mo, Se and Zn levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood does not appear to be useful in the assessment of fetal growth.

Umbilical cord blood–naive T cells but not adult blood–naive T cells require HLA class II on antigen-presenting cells for allo-immune activation

Because a relatively low incidence and severity of graft-versus-host disease after umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation is observed, we investigated whether T cells from UCB or adult blood (AB) were differentially activated by antigen-presenting cells with or without human leukocyte antigen (HLA)–DR expression. T cells from UCB or AB, or CD45RA + naive T cells and CD45RO + memory T cells separated from AB, were stimulated with the HLA-DR + or HLA-DR − cell line AML193. On days 1–3 after stimulation, numbers of interleukin (IL)–2, IL-4, IL-10 or interferon gamma (IFN-γ)–secreting cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunospot analysis. No IL-4 or IL-10 was produced. AML193-DR + cells induced IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion with slower kinetics and lower levels in UCB T cells than in AB T cells. AML193-DR + cells induced comparable IL-2 but higher IFN-γ secretion in CD45RA + T cells from AB than in UCB T cells. AML193-DR − cells did not induce IL-2– or IFN-γ secretion in UCB T cells, but stimulated both CD45RA + and CD45RO + T cells from AB to secrete IL-2 and IFN-γ. Thus, not only the absence of memory T cells but also the inability to respond to HLA-DR–negative antigen-presenting cells and the slower kinetics and level of activation found for naive T cells from UCB as compared with AB may partly explain the reduced antirecipient reactivity after UCB transplantation.