Examining the Effects of In Utero Opioid Exposure on Neonatal Immune Profiles

Nicholas W. Miller*, Brittany G. Seman, Stephen M. Akers, and Cory M. Robinson

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26505

Presentation Category: Health Sciences (Poster Presentation #129)

Student’s Major: Immunology and Medical Microbiology

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a disease characterized by symptoms of withdrawal in newborns following prolonged exposure to opioids in utero. Incidence rates are elevated in the United States, especially in West Virginia, as a result of the opioid epidemic. Previous findings have characterized the effect of opioid usage on the adult immune system, but there is limited information regarding impacts on neonatal immunity, which has been shown to vary substantially from adults. This research study seeks to compare immune profiles and functional responses between healthy neonates and those exposed to opioids in utero. The latter are at risk of developing NAS. We hypothesized that opioid exposure would lead to reduced numbers of some populations of immune cells with diminished functional capabilities and an overall increased suppressive profile. We obtained umbilical cord blood from full-term pregnancies of healthy and opioid-exposed neonates at birth. Immune cell populations were enumerated, and T cell proliferation was assessed between groups using flow cytometric analysis. Preliminary analysis has demonstrated increased numbers of T cells in umbilical cord blood and corresponding proliferative potential in vitro in opioid-exposed donors. Additional planned studies will compare pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles by multiplex assay and measure the ability of monocytes to kill Escherichia coli. It is critical to understand the impact of fetal opioid exposure on the neonatal immune system to aid in the development of effective maternal, fetal, and/or neonatal intervention strategies to improve outcomes.

Funding: West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: Other, Immunology and Medical Microbiology Internship