Neonatal Encephalopathy Is Associated With Altered IL-8 and GM-CSF Which Correlates With Outcomes

• Published in: Frontiers in pediatrics Vol. 8; p. 556216
• Main Authors: Sweetman, Deirdre U, Strickland, Tammy, Melo, Ashanty M, Kelly, Lynne A, Onwuneme, Chike, Watson, William R, Murphy, John F A, Slevin, Marie, Donoghue, Veronica, O'Neill, Amanda, Molloy, Eleanor J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 08-02-2021
• Subjects: cytokines; hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; neonatal brain injury; outcomes; Pediatrics; perinatal asphyxia; therapeutic hypothermia; cytokines; neonatal brain injury; perinatal asphyxia; therapeutic hypothermia; hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; outcomes
• ISSN: 2296-2360; 2296-2360
• DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.556216

To investigate the relationship between cytokines associated with innate immune cell activation and brain injury and outcome in infants with NE compared to neonatal controls.
Serum and CSF biomarkers associated with activated neutrophils and monocytes [Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating-Factor (GM-CSF)] were serially measured using duplex immunoassays on days 1, 3 and 7 in term newborns with NE and controls. Results were compared to grade of encephalopathy, seizures, MRI brain imaging, mortality and Bayley Score of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) at 2 years of age.
Ninety-four infants had serum samples collected with 34 CSF samples. NE Grade II/III was significantly associated with elevated on day 2 serum IL-8. Mortality was best predicted by elevated day 1 IL-8. GM-CSF was initially elevated on day 1 and abnormal MRI imaging was associated with decreased day 2 GM-CSF. Elevated GM-CSF at day of life 6-7 correlated negatively with composite cognitive, language and motor Bayley-III scores at 2 years.
Moderate or severe NE and mortality was associated with elevated IL-8. Day 2 GM-CSF could predict abnormal MRI results in NE and Bayley-III. Therefore, these cytokines are altered in NE and may predict early outcomes and further implicate inflammatory processes in NE.