Toll-like receptor induced pro-interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 in monocytes are lower in healthy infants compared to adults

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 25;8(10):e78018. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078018. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Infants have long been known to have higher infectious diseases morbidity and mortality and suboptimal vaccination responses compared to older children and adults. A variety of differences in innate and adaptive immune responses have been described between these two groups. We compared Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced production of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α between 2-month-old infants and adults. TLR 7/8-induced production of pro-IL-1β and IL-6 in monocytes was lower in 2-month-old infants compared to adults. There was no difference in TLR 7/8-induced production of TNF-α. Lower TLR-induced production of pro-IL-1β and IL-6 in innate immune cells during early infancy likely contributes to suboptimal vaccine responses and infectious diseases susceptibility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Interleukin-1beta / blood*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / blood*
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Monocytes / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptors / blood*
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • TLR7 protein, human
  • TLR8 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha