Profound Lack of Interleukin (IL)–12/IL‐23p40 in Neonates Born Early in Gestation Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Sepsis

Abstract

To our knowledge, this study is the first detailed analysis of multiple TLR function in neonates born extremely premature. Although attenuation of proinflammatory pathways may protect against tissue-damaging immunity early in life, this previously unrecognized p40 immune deficiency appears to result in considerably increased susceptibility to infection in human preterm newborns.