Immunologic Characteristics of Cord Blood in Children with Increased Risk of Allergy Development Preventive Use of Probiotics

Allergy is one of the most common diseases. Identification of early prognostic markers pointing to an increased risk of allergy development is therefore of increasing importance. Cord blood represents an easily attainable clinical material for searching for prognostic markers signalizing future allergy development. Proportions of Th1 cytokines, Th2 cytokines and regulatory cytokines were tested in cord blood of children of allergic mothers (children in relatively high risk of allergy development) in comparison with cord blood of children of healthy mothers (low risk children). Also the activities of lymphocytes, dendritic cells (DC) and regulatory cells (Tregs) were compared in children of healthy and allergic mothers. The generally increased activity of both in vitro stimulated and non-stimulated mononuclear cord blood leukocytes was proved in children of allergic mothers in comparison with low risk children. The increased activity of DC of high risk children was detectable only after polyclonal stimulation. Significantly less pronounced functional properties of cord blood Tregs were found in children of allergic mothers when compared with children of healthy mothers. The increased reactivity of lymphocytes and DC together with the decreased activity of Tregs can support an easier..