Objective To investigate the mechanism of the weakened immune system in newborns via observing the effect of TLR9 on newborns at different gestational age. Methods We collected umbilical cord blood from 229 neonates at different gestational age from July 2010 to June 2014. According to the gestational age, the samples were divided into 4 groups, which were 28-31 weeks group, 31-34 weeks group, 34-37 weeks group and ≥37 weeks group. Flow cytometry was used to detect TLR9 positive cells of cord blood mononuclear(CBMC) and real-time quantitative PCR was applied to determine mRNA expression of TLR9 in order to analyze the relationship between those with gestational age. In the mean time, the correlation between mRNA and protein expressions of TLR9 was analysed. Results The rate of TLR9 positive cell was 15.93±6.23%(28-31 weeks), 11.63±6.70%(31-34 weeks), 13.66±6.88%(34-37 weeks), 20.51±12.06%(≥37 weeks), respectively. The rate of TLR9 positive cells was significantly higher in 28-31W group than in 31-34W group(P<0.05). TLR9 positive cell rate increased gradually and reached the highest in 37W group with significantly statistical difference(P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the rate of TLR9 positive cell and gestational age from 31 weeks to 37 weeks, (r=0.273, P=0.006). The mRNA expression of TLR9 was 4.95±3.44%(28-31 weeks), 8.89±8.49%(31-34 weeks), 13.91±10.92%(34-37 weeks), 7.19±7.11%(≥37 weeks), respectively. The mRNA expression increased with gestational age from 28 weeks to 36 weeks,and it had positive correlation with gestational age(r=0.355, P<0.001). The mRNA expression of TLR9 decreased in ≥37 weeks group, and there was no significant difference compared with 28-31 weeks group(P>0.05). There was a negative correlation between the mRNA expression of TLR9 and the rate of TLR9 positive cell at the same gestational age in preterm infants(r=-0.227, P=0.011).Conclusion The rate of TLR9 positive cell and the mRNA expression of TLR9 are significantly different in newborns at different gestational age. With gestational age increasing, the rate of TLR9 positive cell rises from 31weeks to 37weeks, while the mRNA expression TLR9 is augmented from 28 weeks to 36 weeks. |