Constitutively high-level expression of TGFβ isoforms in cord blood and its relationship to perinatal findings.
BACKGROUND
The clinical significance of TGFβ isoforms in cord blood is not well understood.


METHODS
We obtained cord blood samples from 37 term infants and 85 preterm infants who were born in several clinical settings. The serum levels of 3 TGFβ isoforms and of the other 17 cytokines in cord blood were investigated using cytometric bead array technology.


RESULTS
Very high levels of TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 isoforms compared to the level of other cytokines were found; mean levels were 44,180 and 1871pg/mL, respectively. The levels of all 3 isoforms of TGFβ were significantly correlated with birth weight, and the levels of TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 were correlated with gestational age. The levels of TGFβ1 and β2 isoforms were strongly correlated with each other, but not with levels of other cytokines. The levels of TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 were significantly higher in male infants and significantly lower in infants with fetal growth restriction. The prevalence of chronic lung disease was related to a low level of TGFβ1, and that of patent ductus arteriosus was related to a high level of TGFβ1 in preterm infants.


CONCLUSIONS
TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 appeared to play a significant role in physiological and pathological conditions in the fetus. TGFβ isoform levels appear to be regulated independently of those of other cytokines and do not appear to be influenced by inflammation in the fetal period. The role of TGFβ3 in cord blood and the postnatal chronological changes of the TGFβ isoforms should be investigated in the future.
Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken 329-0498, Japan. Electronic address: tnaoto-tky@umin.ac.jp.
Naoto
N
Takahashi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken 329-0498, Japan.
Kayo
K
Takahashi
Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken 329-0498, Japan.
Mami
M
Kobayashi
Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken 329-0498, Japan.
Yukari
Y
Yada
Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken 329-0498, Japan.
Yasunori
Y
Koike
Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken 329-0498, Japan.
Yumi
Y
Kono
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000097:blood; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
Cord blood; Cytokine profile; Isoforms; Newborn infants; TGFβ