Aims To reveal the role of inborn immunity factors in the development of the generalised herpetic infection in newborn babies.

Methods Clinical and laboratory data of 48 newborn babies in the early neonatal period were studied. 22 babies (the main group) had the generalised herpetic infection. The control group was comprised of 26 clinically healthy babies. The intrauterine herpetic infection was diagnosed on the basis of a clinical presentation of the disease, detection of DNA of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in blood and in urine, rise in the titers of specific IgG to HSV over time and detection of IgM in the blood serum. The expression of TLR-2(CD14⁺CD282⁺) on monocytes was determined by means of cytofluorometry (Beckman Coulter). The polymorphism of the allelic variants of TLR-2 genes was studied with the help of PCR. The content of IFN-α in the blood serum was determined by means of immune-enzyme assay (BCM-Diagnostic, USA).

Results In the main group as compared to the control group the reduction of TLR-2 (CD14⁺CD282⁺) expression on monocytes was revealed in the peripheral blood (43.8 ± 8.3% as against 76.2 ± 5.6%, p < 0.05). The performed studies of the frequency of TLR-2 gene polymorphisms showed that the frequency of Arg753Gln genotype of TLR-2 gene was significantly higher in the newborn babies with the generalised herpetic infection as compared to the control group (26.3% and 3.8% correspondingly, p < 0.05). The correlation between Arg/Gln allele of TLR-2 gene and the indices of nonspecific organism protection was determined. It appeared that in the patients, who were carriers of Gln allele in heterozygous condition, the level of IFN-α was significantly different from the indices of the group without the given polymorphism (0.49 ± 0.01 pg/ml as against 0.1 ± 0.01 pg/ml, p < 0.05).

Conclusion In babies with the generalised intrauterine herpetic infection the reduction of TLR-2 expression on monocytes takes place as well as the allelic polymorphism of TLR-2 gene in Arg753Gln points and the reduction of IFN-α level. The revealed peculiarities of the inborn immunity factors explain high sensitivity of the newborn babies in relation to the herpetic infection and confirm their role in the development of the clinical presentation of the disease.