Influence of early environmental factors on lymphocyte subsets and gut microbiota in infants at risk of celiac disease: the PROFICEL study

Introduction: It is known that the HLA genotype can explain about a 40% of the genetic risk of celiac disease (CD), thus, other genetic predisposing factors as well as factors that subtly modulate T cell activation and differentiation need to be studied. This includes environmental factors that are currently believed to impact on the immune system and gut microbiota development. Aim: To assess the associations between early environmental factors (EEF), lymphocyte subsets, and intestinal microbiota composition in infants at familial risk for CD. Study design: Prospective observational study. Subjects: Fifty-five 4 month-old infants with at least a first-degree relative suffering CD. Infants were classified according to type of delivery, mother's antibiotic intake during pregnancy and during labor, milk-feeding practices, early infections and antibiotic intake, rotavirus vaccine administration, and allergy incidence within the first 18 months of life. Methods: Lymphocyte subsets and gut microbiota composition were studied at the age of 4 months. Results: Formula feeding and infant's infections were associated with higher CD3+, CD4+, CD4+CD38+, CD4+CD28+ and CD3+CD4+CD45RO+ counts (P0.01). Infant s infections were also associated with higher CD4+CD25+, CD4+HLA-DR+ and NK cell counts (P0.01). Cesarean delivery and rotavirus vaccine administration were associated with lower percentage of CD4+CD25+ cells. Infant's antibiotic intake was associated and correlated with lower counts of Bifidobacterium longum and higher counts of Bacteroides fragilis group. Conclusions: Infant s infections and antibiotic intake in the first 4 months of life are the EEF more strongly and/or frequently associated to lymphocyte subpopulations and microbiota composition, respectively, in infants at risk of CD.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Pozo-Rubio,Tamara, Palma,Giada de, Mujico,Jorge R., Olivares,Marta, Marcos,Ascensión, Acuña,María Dolores, Polanco,Isabel, Sanz,Yolanda, Nova,Esther
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Grupo Arán 2013
Online Access:	http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0212-16112013000200026
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