Elevation of cytokine concentrations in asphyxiated neonates.
BACKGROUND
Various cytokines are reportedly associated with many neonatal diseases. Asphyxia is considered to result in ischemia-reperfusion injuries and induces abnormal inflammatory responses involving excessive cytokine production.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate alteration in sera levels of various cytokines/chemokines in case of perinatal asphyxia at birth.


METHODS
In order to determine the concentrations of various cytokines/chemokines in sera, we used a highly sensitive fluorescence microsphere method. We measured the concentration of 8 types of cytokines/chemokines in sera obtained from 17 cases of asphyxia, 10 normal neonates, and 6 healthy adults.


RESULTS
The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in the sera of asphyxiated neonates were higher than those in the normal neonates. Irrespective of the presence or absence of asphyxia, sera concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha were higher in the neonates than those in the adults. The concentration of IFN-gamma in the asphyxiated neonates was lower than that in the normal neonates. Sera levels of IL-10 were higher in the asphyxiated cases than those in the normal neonates. The sera levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in asphyxiated neonates with either a poor outcome or death were higher than those without poor outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
The concentrations of various types of cytokines/chemokines were different in neonatal sera and some of them increased drastically during asphyxia. The concentration of an anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was elevated in asphyxiated neonates immediately after birth, thereby suggesting that IL-10 might be associated with neuroprotective functions.
Okazaki
Kaoru
K
Tokyo Metropolitan Hachioji Children's Hospital, Hachioji, and Division of Neonatology, Perinatal Center, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Nishida
Akira
A
Kato
Masahiko
M
Kozawa
Kunihisa
K
Uga
Naoki
N
Kimura
Hirokazu
H
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma