No direct effect of an elective caesarean section on the phenotypic and functional characteristics of maternal peripheral blood T lymphocytes

ProblemThe short term effect of the caesarean delivery on the phenotypic and functional characteristics of the peripheral blood leukocytes of the mother is unknown.Method of studyWe determined the composition and activation status of the maternal peripheral blood leukocytes isolated within 4 h before and within 24 h after elective caesarean delivery with neuraxial anaesthesia. Furthermore, we determined the proliferative and cytotoxic response of these leukocytes to several stimulators.ResultsNo significant differences in the percentage of CD4+CD25bright and CD8+CD28− T cells or the expression of activation markers FoxP3, CD69 and HLA-DR were observed in peripheral blood drawn before caesarean delivery compared to after caesarean delivery. Also the alloreactive immune responses in samples taken before and after the caesarean delivery were similar.ConclusionOur results show that the phenotype and immune response of maternal peripheral blood T cells obtained before elective caesarean delivery are not different from those obtained after caesarean delivery. This knowledge will facilitate sample collection for future studies on the immune response in term pregnancies.