Reduction in regulatory T cells in preterm newborns is associated with necrotizing enterocolitis

Despite multifactorial pathogenesis, dysregulation of inflammatory immune response may play a crucial role in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are involved in immune tolerance early in life. We aimed to investigate the predicting role of Tregs in developing NEC in neonates...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric research 2023-11, Vol.94 (5), p.1789-1796
Main Authors: Pacella, Ilenia, Di Chiara, Maria, Prota, Rita, De Luca, Chiara, Cardillo, Annalisa, Potenza, Elena, Grimaldos, Alessandra Pinzon, Pinna, Valeria, Piconese, Silvia, Terrin, Gianluca
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clinical
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - diagnosis
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - epidemiology
Female
Fetal Diseases
Gastrointestinal diseases
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Newborn, Diseases
Infant, Premature
Lymphocytes
Male
Necrosis
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
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Summary:Despite multifactorial pathogenesis, dysregulation of inflammatory immune response may play a crucial role in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are involved in immune tolerance early in life. We aimed to investigate the predicting role of Tregs in developing NEC in neonates at high risk. We studied six newborns with a diagnosis of NEC (cases) in comparison with 52 controls (without NEC). We further classified controls as neonates with feeding intolerance (FI) and neonates without it (FeedTol). The rate of female and male neonates (sex defined as a biological attribute) was similar. We analyzed the blood frequency of Tregs (not overall numbers) at three time points: 0-3 (T0), 7-10 (T1), and 27-30 (T2) days after birth by flow cytometry. Neonates' sex was defined based on the inspection of external genitalia at birth. We observed, at T0, a significantly lower frequency of Tregs in NEC cases (p 
ISSN:0031-3998
1530-0447
DOI:10.1038/s41390-023-02658-3