Frontiers in Pediatrics (Feb 2021)

Neonatal Encephalopathy Is Associated With Altered IL-8 and GM-CSF Which Correlates With Outcomes

  • Deirdre U. Sweetman,
  • Deirdre U. Sweetman,
  • Deirdre U. Sweetman,
  • Tammy Strickland,
  • Tammy Strickland,
  • Ashanty M. Melo,
  • Ashanty M. Melo,
  • Lynne A. Kelly,
  • Lynne A. Kelly,
  • Lynne A. Kelly,
  • Chike Onwuneme,
  • Chike Onwuneme,
  • William R. Watson,
  • John F. A. Murphy,
  • John F. A. Murphy,
  • Marie Slevin,
  • Veronica Donoghue,
  • Amanda O'Neill,
  • Eleanor J. Molloy,
  • Eleanor J. Molloy,
  • Eleanor J. Molloy,
  • Eleanor J. Molloy,
  • Eleanor J. Molloy,
  • Eleanor J. Molloy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2020.556216
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Aim: To investigate the relationship between cytokines associated with innate immune cell activation and brain injury and outcome in infants with NE compared to neonatal controls.Methods: Serum and CSF biomarkers associated with activated neutrophils and monocytes [Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating-Factor (GM-CSF)] were serially measured using duplex immunoassays on days 1, 3 and 7 in term newborns with NE and controls. Results were compared to grade of encephalopathy, seizures, MRI brain imaging, mortality and Bayley Score of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) at 2 years of age.Results: Ninety-four infants had serum samples collected with 34 CSF samples. NE Grade II/III was significantly associated with elevated on day 2 serum IL-8. Mortality was best predicted by elevated day 1 IL-8. GM-CSF was initially elevated on day 1 and abnormal MRI imaging was associated with decreased day 2 GM-CSF. Elevated GM-CSF at day of life 6–7 correlated negatively with composite cognitive, language and motor Bayley-III scores at 2 years.Conclusion: Moderate or severe NE and mortality was associated with elevated IL-8. Day 2 GM-CSF could predict abnormal MRI results in NE and Bayley-III. Therefore, these cytokines are altered in NE and may predict early outcomes and further implicate inflammatory processes in NE.

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