Differential Brain and Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteomic Responses To Acute Prenatal Endotoxin Exposure

Abstract

Background Chorioamnionitis (CA) is a risk factor for preterm birth and is associated with neurodevelopmental delay and cognitive disorders. Prenatal inflammation-induced brain injury may resolve during the immediate postnatal period, which is a time of rapid metabolic and brain remodeling. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected at birth may be a critical source of predictive biomarkers. Using pigs as a model of preterm infants exposed to CA, we hypothesized that prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure induces proteome changes in the CSF and brain both at birth and later. Methods Fetal piglets (103 days gestation of the full-term 117 days) were administered intra-amniotic (IA) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 3 days before preterm delivery by caesarian section. CSF and brain tissue were collected on postnatal Days 1 and 5 (P1 and P5). CSF and hippocampal proteins were profiled by LC–MS-based quantitative proteomics. Neuroinflammatory responses in the cerebral cortex, periventricular white matter and hippocampus were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and gene expression was evaluated by qPCR. Results Pigs exposed to LPS in utero showed changes in CSF protein levels at birth but not at P5. Complement protein C3, hemopexin, vasointestinal peptide, carboxypeptidase N subunit 2, ITIH1 and plasminogen expression was upregulated in the CSF, while the expression of proteins associated with axon growth and synaptic functions (FGFR1, BASP1, HSPD1, UBER2N, and RCN2), adhesion (Talin1), and neuronal survival (Atox1) was downregulated. Microglia, but not astrocytes, were activated by LPS at P5 in the hippocampus but not in other brain regions. At this time, marginal increases in complement protein C3, LBP, Hif1a, Basp1, Minpp1 and FGFR1 transcription indicated hippocampal proinflammatory responses. Conclusion A brief period of prenatal endotoxin exposure induces proteome changes in the CSF and brain at birth, but most changes resolve a few days later. The developing hippocampus has high neuronal plasticity in response to perinatal inflammation. Changes in CSF protein expression at birth may help to predict later structural brain damage in preterm infants exposed to variable types and durations of CA-related inflammation in utero.