Elevated Umbilical Cord Cytokines are Related to Birth Size in HIV-exposed and Unexposed Infants

Background: Infection causes immune activation and inflammatory cytokinesmay be mediators of intrauterine growth restriction(IUGR). While infection and IUGR are common in developing regions, the intrauterine cytokineenvironment and its impact on birth size is undefined. Understanding the fetal environment mediated by multiple cytokinesmay inform interventions targeting birth anthropometry. Objective: To investigate the relationship between umbilical cord cytokinesand birth size. Methods: Umbilical cord cytokines(IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-12p70, IL-10, IL-13) were multiplexed from 50 singleton deliveries of women residing in rural Tanzania (38% HIV-positive). Birth weight and length were assessed using linear regression models adjusted for maternal age, nutritional status, HIV, and infant gender. Results: Cord IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-12p70, and IL-10 were each associated with reduced birth weight (grams; -532, P<0.01; -372, P=0.04; -315, P=0.03; -721, P<0.01; -278, P=0.04; respectively) and...