Neuregulin-1, the fetal endothelium, and brain damage in preterm newborns.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the potential role for Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) as a systemic endogenous protector in the setting of perinatal inflammatory brain damage.


METHODS
We measured NRG1-protein and mRNA levels in human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) of different gestational ages at various durations of exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In parallel, we genotyped the donor individuals for SNP8NRG221533, a disease-related single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5' region upstream of the NRG1 sequence. Intracellular NRG1 localization was visualized by confocal microscopy. Furthermore we analyzed the relationship between SNP8NRG221533 genotype and neurodevelopmental outcome in children born preterm.


RESULTS
We observed a positive dose-response-relationship between NRG1-mRNA and intracellular protein levels with both advancing gestational age and duration of LPS exposure in HUVECs. The presence of allele C at the SNP8NRG221533 locus was associated with an increased cellular production of NRG1 in HUVECs, and with a significantly reduced risk for cerebral palsy and developmental delay in children born preterm.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, our data indicate that gestational age, duration of LPS exposure, and the SNP8NRG221533 genotype affect NRG1 levels. Our results support the hypothesis that NRG1 may qualify as an endogenous protector during fetal development.
Hoffmann
Insa
I
Pediatric Pulmonology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Bueter
Wolfgang
W
Zscheppang
Katja
K
Brinkhaus
Maria-Jantje
MJ
Liese
Andrea
A
Riemke
Stefan
S
Dörk
Thilo
T
Dammann
Olaf
O
Dammann
Christiane E L
CE
D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005838:Genotype; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D020890:Neuregulin-1