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T-cell receptor excision circles and postnatal cytomegalovirus infection in very low birth weight infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 44, pages 1058–1060 (2024)Cite this article

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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) poses risk of significant morbidity, including sepsis-like syndrome, hepatic dysfunction, and cytopenias [1], in very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) infants. CMV positive breastmilk is an important source of neonatal infection [2]. Despite the high prevalence of CMV in breastmilk, rates of acquired postnatal CMV (pCMV) infection in VLBW infants are low [3]. Several breastmilk factors have been associated with higher rates of CMV transmission, including overall viral load [2]; however, infant host factors that explain the development of pCMV are unclear.

One possible host factor mediating neonatal infection is cellular immune competency. Since cellular immunity depends upon normal T-cell development, neonatal immune function can be partially measured via T-cell Receptor Excision Circles (TRECs), which are routinely assayed by newborn screening (NBS). We hypothesized that lower copy numbers of TRECs may be associated with an increased risk of pCMV infection.

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Funding

Funding

Funding was provided by NHLBI Awards. This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award P01 HL086773.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Cassandra D. Josephson, Lisa Kobrynski.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Alexandra Towne, Natia Saakadze & Lisa Kobrynski

  2. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Alexandra Towne, Ravi M. Patel & Lisa Kobrynski

  3. Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Alexandra Towne & Ravi M. Patel

  4. Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Neeta Shenvi & Kirk A. Easley

  5. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, St. Petersburg, FL, USA

    Cassandra D. Josephson

  6. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Cassandra D. Josephson

Authors
  1. Alexandra Towne
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  2. Ravi M. Patel
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  3. Neeta Shenvi
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  4. Kirk A. Easley
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  5. Natia Saakadze
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  6. Cassandra D. Josephson
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  7. Lisa Kobrynski
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Contributions

Alexandra Towne: data analysis, manuscript drafting, manuscript editing. Ravi Patel: data analysis, manuscript editing. Neeta Shenvi and Kirk Easley: statistical analysis. Natia Saakadze: lab-based assays, data analysis. Cassandra Josephson: initial study design, acquisition of data, data analysis, and manuscript editing. Lisa Kobrynski: initial study design, acquisition of data, TREC RT-PCR, data analysis, and manuscript editing.

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Correspondence to Alexandra Towne.

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Towne, A., Patel, R.M., Shenvi, N. et al. T-cell receptor excision circles and postnatal cytomegalovirus infection in very low birth weight infants. J Perinatol 44, 1058–1060 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-02023-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-02023-0

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