Levels of cytokines in human umbilical cord blood serum and in cultured mononuclear cells isolated from cord blood induced by phytohemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharide

AIM: To determine the levels of varied cytokines in human umbilical cord blood (UCB) serum and in cultured mononuclear cells isolated from cord blood induced by phytohemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharide(PHA and LPS), and to explore the immunity function of these cytokines in human umbilical cord blood and the mechanism of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). METHODS: The serum values and the values of PHA and LPS-induced mononuclear cells(MNC) of interleukin-4(IL-4), IL-10,tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interferon-γ(IFN-γ),IL-12,IL-15 and IL-18 were determined by ELISA in UCB of 26 samples, and compared with normal children peripheral blood (PB) of 16 samples. RESULTS: The level of IL-4 in UCB serum was similar to PB serum( P 0 05). The level of IL-12 in PB serum was higher than that of PB serum( P 0 05). The levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-12,IL-15 and IL-18 in CB serum were markedly higher than those in PB serum( P 0.05). The induced levels of above-mentioned cytokines in CBMNC were significantly lower than that in PBMNC( P 0.05). CONCLUSION: The lower levels of most above-mentioned cytokines in human CB serum and the lower induced levels in CBMNC showed that immunity functions of UCB were immature, which provide insight into the low incidence of graft-versus-host disease.