Maternal tobacco smoking and decreased leukocytes, including dendritic cells, in neonates

Pachlopnik Schmid, JM; Kuehni, CE; Strippoli, MP; Roiha, HL; Pavlovic, R; Latzin, P; Gallati, S; Kraemer, R; Dahinden, C; Frey, U; Swiss, Pediatric Respiratory Research Group (2007). Maternal tobacco smoking and decreased leukocytes, including dendritic cells, in neonates. Pediatric research, 61(4), pp. 462-6. New York, N.Y.: Nature Publishing Group 10.1203/pdr.0b013e3180332d02

[img] Text
Pachlopnik PediatrRes 2007.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to registered users only
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (161kB) | Request a copy

Maternal smoking in pregnancy is associated with respiratory diseases in the offspring, possibly due to prenatal influences on the developing immune system. We investigated whether maternal smoking in pregnancy was associated with cord blood leukocyte numbers, including precursor dendritic cells, adjusting for concomitant factors. In a prospective healthy birth cohort study, total leukocyte counts were reduced in neonates of smoking mothers [10.7 (8.4-13.0), n=14] compared with nonexposed infants [14.7 (13.7-15.7), n=74, p=0.002] [geometric mean cells x 10(3)/microL (95% confidence interval)]. All leukocyte subsets were decreased, most prominently segmented neutrophils [4.3 (2.8-5.7) versus 6.2 (5.5-6.8), p=0.021], lymphocytes [3.8 (2.9-4.8) versus 5.0 (4.5-5.6), p=0.036], and myeloid precursor dendritic cells [12.7 cells/microL (9.1-17.8) versus 18.3 (15.8-21.2), p=0.055]. These differences persisted after adjustment for possible confounders. Predictors of myeloid precursor dendritic cell numbers in multivariable models were maternal smoking (-5.1 cells/microL, p=0.042), age (-0.5 cells/microL/y, p=0.035), and, marginally, asthma (+8.1 cells/microL, p=0.075). The decrease of all leukocytes in neonates of smoking mothers could be clinically significant and suggests a decreased cell production, increased peripheral recruitment, or retention in bone marrow. Given the importance of dendritic cells in early immune responses, their decrease might reflect an impact of maternal smoking on the developing fetal immune system.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Haematology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and Hospital Pharmacy (DOLS) > Institute for Immunology [discontinued]

UniBE Contributor:

Kühni, Claudia, Strippoli, Marie-Pierre, Latzin, Philipp, Gallati, Sabina, Kraemer, Richard, Dahinden, Clemens A., Frey, Urs Peter

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0031-3998

ISBN:

17515872

Publisher:

Nature Publishing Group

Language:

English

Submitter:

Anette van Dorland

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:52

Last Modified:

02 Mar 2023 23:22

Publisher DOI:

10.1203/pdr.0b013e3180332d02

PubMed ID:

17515872

Web of Science ID:

000245224400015

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.22044

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/22044 (FactScience: 29507)

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback