It is supposed that prenatal Th1/Th2 polarization of immune response is possible, but the markers of such polarization, trustworthy associated with atopy forming are not known. Aim: To evaluate the connection between intracellular interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) and risk of infant atopic dermatitis (AD) forming. Methods: Intracellular IFN-gamma expression as well as early activation marker CD69 (separate for total mononuclear cells population and CD4+ lymphocytes) was examined using flow cytometry after phytohemagglutinin stimulation of CBMC obtained from 95 full-term newborns. We estimated AD presence in 41 enrolled newborns in the age of one year (medically diagnosed AD was marked in 25 of them). Data are shown as median (25-75% quartiles) of absolute cells count (x106/l). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: Only for nonactivated CBMC, producing IFN-gamma (subtype CD69-/INF gamma+), the association with AD forming has been found. The number of CD69-/INF gamma+ CBMC in AD infants was 3.3 (0-6.4), as opposed to infants without AD - 9.4 (5.3-16.5), p= 0.006. Relative risk for AD forming in newborns with low CD69-/INF gamma+ (<= 5.0 - median for our cohort) was 3.4 (95% CI - 1.19-9.69). Significant differences in the number of CD69/INF gamma+ CBMC was kept after adjusting to such factors as family atopic history, place of living (city/village), birth order (first/second or later), the number of family members living together, bedsharing smoking, pets owing and the newborn gender. Conclusion: Thus, the decreasing of intracellular IFN-gamma production by CBMC, proving the prenatal displacement in Th1/Th2 balance, is the strong predictor of infant AD forming..
