Association of cord blood chemokines and other biomarkers with neonatal complications following intrauterine inflammation

Abstract

BackgroundIntrauterine inflammation has been associated with preterm birth and neonatal complications. Few reports have comprehensively investigated multiple cytokine profiles in cord blood and precisely identified surrogate markers for intrauterine inflammation.AimTo identify the cytokines and surrogate markers associated with intrauterine inflammation and subsequent neonatal complications.Patients and methodsWe analyzed cord blood samples from 135 patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Sasebo City General Hospital. We retrospectively determined the associations between the presence of neonatal complications and cord blood cytokines, prenatal factors, and laboratory data at birth. A total of 27 cytokines in the cord blood were measured using a bead-based array sandwich immunoassay.ResultsBoth Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels were low, whereas the levels of growth factors and chemokines were high. In particular, chemokines IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1α were significantly higher in very premature neonates when compared with more mature neonates. In addition, some have been shown to be associated with multiple neonatal complications, including patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and chronic lung disease (CLD). Similarly, the levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, nucleated RBC, and urinary β2-microglobulin were associated with these complications and chemokine levels.ConclusionsOur results suggest the association of inflammatory chemokines IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1α with intrauterine inflammation, premature birth, and neonatal complications in these perinatal subjects. Furthermore, the association of the aforementioned biomarkers with PDA, RDS, and CLD may help establish early diagnostic measures to predict such neonatal complications following intrauterine inflammation.

Sex-specific alterations in preterm brain

“…For females, the current findings suggest that it is white matter that is more vulnerable to the effects of GA. Several studies in mice models have shown that female mice, compared to male mice, have a much greater rise in the chemokine Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein_2 (MCP_1) in response to lung injury [41]. In premature infants, MCP_1 has been shown to be specifically elevated and also associated with adverse outcomes such as Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH), Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis [42]. In fact, MCP_1 has been shown to be uniquely elevated in association with white matter brain injury in premature infants[43].…”

Recent advances in antenatal factors predisposing to bronchopulmonary dysplasia

“…58,59 Cord blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) have been shown to be significantly elevated in very preterm infants who later developed BPD, although these and other relationships are influenced by the inverse correlation of these inflammatory markers with GA at birth. 60–62 Interestingly, higher C-reactive protein levels were associated with decreased odds of BPD in former preterm newborns < 32 weeks’ GA at birth. 62 The co-occurrence of placental inflammation in the setting of maternal vascular under-perfusion also mitigates the strong anti-angiogenic relationships of abnormal placentation.…”

Human Epididymis Protein 4 Levels in Neonates with Respiratory Disorder

“…In this study, higher levels of HE4 in the neonates with respiratory disorder were observed. It is well known that an inflammatory process may play an important role in the respiratory disorders (including TTN) [29]. Thanks to the previously published articles, it is acknowledged that the WDFC protein (to which HE4 belongs) is overexpressed in the inflammatory process.…”