ABSTRACT
Cord blood-derived T cells have been shown to suppress differentiation of B cells into immunoglobulin-secreting cells and proliferation of mononuclear cells (MNC). We report about a soluble factor present in the supernatant of pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated cord blood MNC which was able to suppress significantly the number of plaque-forming cells (PFC) in adult MNC populations, but had no effect upon proliferation of adult MNC in response to PWM and allogeneic MNC. The number of PFC was not suppressed by supernatant from unstimulated cord blood MNC or by PWM-stimulated adult MNC.
Subject(s)
Antibody-Producing Cells/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Fetal Blood/immunology , Cell Differentiation , Cell Division , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pokeweed Mitogens/pharmacology , T-Lymphocytes/immunologyABSTRACT
Fewer plaque-forming cells (PFC) were found in the cord blood than in adult blood. B cells of newborns seem to be functionally mature. T cells of newborns provide enough help but exert increased suppressor activity.
Subject(s)
B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Fetal Blood/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Adult , Cell Survival , Cells, Cultured , Hemolytic Plaque Technique , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Leukocyte Count , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunologyABSTRACT
More than 20.000 obstetric cases were attended to during the years 1965 to 1974 at the Semmelweis-Klinik in Vienna. The perinatal maternal mortality rate was 0.1% and the perinatal infant mortality rate was finally 15%. The cases were treated according to oldfashioned obstetric principles. Hence, although the more modern obstetric methods might be of some scientific value, their importance appears to have been overestimated from a practical point of view. A return to the conscientious implementation of simple, long-established methods of pernatal care appears to be called for, even with the most modern monitoring machines at hand.
