Nuclear factor kappaB activation in pulmonary leukocytes from infants with hyaline membrane disease: associations with chorioamnionitis and Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization.
Unresolved pulmonary inflammation in hyaline membrane disease (HMD) may be a precursor to the development of chronic lung disease of early infancy. We investigated whether nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), a transcription factor that regulates the inflammatory process, is activated in pulmonary leukocytes in tracheal aspirates from premature infants with HMD. A total of 172 samples were obtained from 59 infants, two thirds of whom showed NF-kappaB activation in lung neutrophils and macrophages on at least one occasion. Infants who had activated NF-kappaB showed elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations in their tracheal aspirates. These infants also required a longer period of mechanical ventilation support. Almost half of the infants with HMD had antenatal exposure to chorioamnionitis on the basis of placental histopathologic examination. These infants had evidence of activated NF-kappaB and elevated cytokines and were more likely to have Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization in their airways. Together, these observations suggest that NF-kappaB activation in pulmonary leukocytes may be involved in the lung inflammatory process in infants with HMD.
Cheah
Fook-Choe
FC
Free Radical Research Group, Department of Pathoplogy, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. cheahfc@mail.hukm.ukm.my
Winterbourn
Christine C
CC
Darlow
Brian A
BA
Mocatta
Tessa J
TJ
Vissers
Margret C M
MC
D001724:Birth Weight; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000382:microbiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006819:Hyaline Membrane Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007249:Inflammation; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000382:microbiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D010100:Oxygen