Cytokine. 2025 Aug 1;194:157006. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2025.157006. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress during the antenatal period causes an increase in the risk of morbidity and mortality in newborns. This study aimed to determine oxidative stress in the antenatal period, by measuring chemokine levels in cord blood and to show the correlation between chemokine levels and prematurity morbidities.
METHODS: Neonates born at or below 32 weeks of gestation at Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children’s Hospital or Ordu University Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. Cord blood samples were collected and IL-8, IP-10, eotaxin, TARC, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIG, ENA-78, MIP-3α, GROα, I-TAC, MIP-1β levels were measured. Morbidities of prematurity [respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)] and mortality/discharge status were collected via the hospital records. Diagnosis was noted and their relationship with cord blood chemokine levels was examined.
RESULTS: Total 55 patients with a mean gestational age of 29 weeks (±3) and a mean birth weight of 1303 (±479) grams were included in the study. IL-8 levels were significantly higher in cord blood samples from babies diagnosed with RDS, BPD, PDA, IVH, PVL, ROP and mortality. Elevated MIP-3α levels were associated with BPD, PDA, NEC, IVH, ROP, and mortality, while increased MIP-1β levels were observed in cases of RDS, BPD, and ROP. When the participants were divided into three groups according to their gestational age, a statistically significant increase in IL-8 (p < 0.001), MIP-3α (p = 0.004) and MIP-1β (p = 0.016) levels was found as gestational age decreased.
CONCLUSION: Cord blood chemokine levels including IL-8, MIP-3α, and MIP-1β may serve as potential biomarkers for identifying infants at risk of prematurity-related morbidities. However, since these levels also vary with gestational age, their interpretation requires caution. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings.
PMID:40752454 | DOI:10.1016/j.cyto.2025.157006
