Gene expression profile of activated CD4 T cells from adults and newborns

Given their precipitous encounter with the environment, newborn infants might be expected to possess abundant immunoprotective mechanisms. Paradoxically, their T cells display grossly impaired Th1 anti-bacterial and anti-viral responses. This study identifies factors produced by neonatal CD4 T cells when compared with adult naive CD4 T cells and highlights CXCL8 as a pivotal effector molecule in neonatal T cells. Using Affimetrix microarray we compared gene expression in cord blood derived CD4 T cells with naive CD4 T cells from adults after polyclonal stimulation.

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Gibbons D, Fleming P, Virasami A, Michel ML, Sebire NJ, Costeloe K, Carr R, Klein N, Hayday A