Different subsets of circulating angiogenic cells do not predict bronchopulmonary dysplasia or other diseases of prematurity in preterm infants.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease occurring in very and extremely preterm infants undergoing mechanical ventilation. Given the altered lung vascular growth characterizing BPD, circulating angiogenic cells could be useful biomarkers to predict the risk. The objective of the study was to determine whether the percentages of circulating angiogenic cells (CD34+VEGFR-2+, CD34+CD133+VEGFR-2+, and CD45-CD34+CD133+VEGFR-2+ cells), assessed in the peripheral blood at birth by flow cytometry, could be used as markers for the risk of BPD. In one-hundred and forty-two preterm neonates (gestational age less than 32 weeks and/or birth weight less than 1500 g) admitted to our tertiary care Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between 2006 and 2009, we evaluated the percentages of circulating angiogenic cells at birth, at 7 days, and, in a subset of infants (n=40), at 28 days of life. The main outcome was the correlation between cell counts at birth and the subsequent risk of developing BPD. In our study, all the three cell populations failed to predict the development of BPD or other diseases of prematurity. We suggest that these cells cannot be used as biomarkers in preterm infants, and that research is needed to find other early predictors of BPD.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
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A
Borghesi
M
M
Massa
R
R
Campanelli
F
F
Garofoli
S
S
Longo
R
R
Cabano
I
I
Mazzucchelli
C
C
Tzialla
A W D
AW
Gavilanes
D
D
Gazzolo
P
P
Manzoni
L
L
Bollani
A
A
Spinillo
V
V
Rosti
M
M
Stronati
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C516769:PTPRC protein, human