Protective Role of Passively Transferred Maternal Cytokines against Bordetella pertussis Infection in Newborn Piglets

What is it about?

Past research has shown that pregnant women, who receive vaccinations during pregnancy, produce antibodies (proteins produced by the immune system), and pass them on to their newborns. However, it’s never been proven that cytokines (small proteins), responsible for regulating the immune cell-cell interactions, are able to be passed onto a newborn in significant levels until now. “Our study demonstrates cytokines are transferred to a newborn". We found them in the colostrum and milk of vaccinated mothers, and these mothers subsequently pass them onto their newborns". We have shown that these transferred cytokines can educate the newborn’s immune system. By comparing cells obtained from offsprings born to vaccinated mothers versus offsprings born to unvaccinated mothers, we found that immune cells from offsprings born to vaccinated mothers function much better when exposed to microbial products. It means transferred cytokines from mothers have influenced and educated offspring's immune cells. During pregnancy, women are often vaccinated against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. While the vaccination is for these illnesses, the cytokines produced from the vaccination translate into extra protection possibly again other diseases. Potentially these transferred cytokines and maternal influence may help to make newborns more resistant to asthma and allergies. In a sense, it’s adding an extra layer of protection. More studies are required to better understand the role of these maternally transferred cytokines in depth.

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Why is it important?

Vaccination during pregnancy not only protects the other and the baby against specific diseases but these additional effects from the vaccine is quite amazing. Our study demonstrates the importance of vaccination especially during the pregnancy.

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