Prohepcidin concentrations and erythroid progenitors in cord blood of appropriate versus small for gestational age neonates.
OBJECTIVE
Prohepcidin (Pro-Hep), synthesized in the liver, is the prohormone of hepcidin (Hep), which reduces iron absorption in the gut; its synthesis is enhanced by inflammation and is reduced during hypoxia. We aimed to study the hypothesis that infants born small for gestational age (SGA) have reduced cord blood concentrations of Pro-Hep.


METHODS
Cord blood was collected from 20 SGA (term and near term >35 week gestation) infants and 20 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) controls. We excluded infants exposed to maternal chronic diseases, smoking, diabetes, alcohol or drug use. Both groups had a 1 min Apgar score above or equal to 7 and had normal cord blood pH (above 7.25). ELISA was used to determine serum concentrations of Pro-Hep and erythropoietin (EPO). Circulating CD71(+)/CD45(-)/SSC(low) cells were measured by flow cytometry as an index of erythroid progenitors.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between groups in terms of hemoglobin concentrations, and Pro-Hep. In contrast, EPO levels and circulating CD71(+)/CD45(-)/SSC(low) erythroid progenitors were significantly higher in the SGA group. These differences remained significant even after controlling for gestational age and gravidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to EPO upregulation during intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and higher concentrations of circulating erythroid progenitors, Pro-Hep concentration is not affected by IUGR.
Amarilyo
G
G
Department of Neonatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Mimouni
F B
FB
Oren
A
A
Ochshorn
Y
Y
Ballin
A
A
Deutsch
V
V
Mandel
D
D
D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D041905:Erythroid Cells; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D013234:Stem Cells
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D064451:Hepcidins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D004921:Erythropoietin