Elevation of high-mobility group box 1 concentration in asphyxiated neonates.
BACKGROUND
In asphyxiated neonates, abnormal proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine production may be induced. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) protein is a new type of proinflammatory cytokine that induces abnormal inflammatory responses involving proinflammatory cytokine production. However, the physiological significance of HMGB-1 in asphyxia is poorly understood.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate whether serum HMGB-1 levels were changed in asphyxia by measuring the serum concentration of HMGB-1 in both asphyxiated and normally delivered neonates at birth.


METHODS
Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we measured the concentration of HMGB-1 in sera obtained from 53 asphyxiated neonates and 32 normally delivered neonates immediately after birth.


RESULTS
The serum concentrations of HMGB-1 in asphyxiated neonates were significantly higher than those in normally delivered neonates without asphyxia (p = 0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that the elevation of HMGB-1 might be associated with abnormal inflammatory responses involving the excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines in neonates with asphyxia.
Okazaki
Kaoru
K
Tokyo Metropolitan Hachioji Children's Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. okazaki@chp.hachioji.tokyo.jp
Kondo
Masatoshi
M
Kato
Masahiko
M
Kakinuma
Ryota
R
Nishida
Akira
A
Noda
Masahiro
M
Kimura
Hirokazu
H
D001034:Apgar Score; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001724:Birth Weight; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005865:Gestational Age; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn
D024243:HMGB1 Protein