Cytokines associated with necrotizing enterocolitis in extremely-low-birth-weight infants

Abstract

Background The goal was to identify cytokines associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Based on our earlier reports of decreased tissue expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, we hypothesized that infants with NEC also have low blood TGF-β levels. We further hypothesized that because fetal inflammation increases the risk of NEC, infants who develop NEC have elevated blood cytokine levels in early neonatal period. Methods Data on 104 extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with NEC and 893 without NEC from 17 centers were analyzed. Clinical information was correlated with blood cytokine levels on postnatal day 1 (D1), D3, D7, D14, and D21. Results Male gender, non-Caucasian/non-African-American ethnicity, sepsis, lower blood TGF-β and interleukin (IL)-2, and higher IL-8 levels were associated with NEC. The NEC group had lower TGF-β levels than controls since D1. The diagnosis of NEC was associated with elevated IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CC-motif ligand (CCL)-2, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β/CCL3, and C-reactive protein. Conclusions Clinical characteristics, such as gender and ethnicity, and low blood TGF-β levels are associated with higher risk of NEC. Infants who developed NEC did not start with high blood levels of inflammatory cytokines, but these rose mainly after the onset of NEC.

Human allogeneic AB0/Rh-identical umbilical cord blood cells in the treatment of juvenile patients with cerebral palsy

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Increased Intestinal Inflammation and Digestive Dysfunction in Preterm Pigs with Severe Necrotizing Enterocolitis

“…Previous studies have shown that no correlation exits between plasma IL-10 level and NEC severity, and plasma IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 are generally not detectable [12,13]. This contrasts with results from infants, where elevated IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 levels have been observed in NEC patients [25,26]. It is therefore important to be critical when inflammatory mediators are used as biomarkers of NEC, and the results may vary according to biological target (mRNA or protein), sample type (plasma or gut tissues), and species (humans, pigs, or rodents).…”

Predictive monitoring for sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis to prevent shock

“…SIRS, systemic inflammatory response syndrome; HRC, heart rate characteristics. recent report of over 900 preterm infants indicates that low serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta in the first days after birth are associated with development of NEC [16].…”