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Interleukin-4 and 13 concentrations in infants at risk to develop Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
R John Baier1, John Loggins, Thomas E Kruger
1Department of Pediatrics Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center 1501 Kings Highway Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932, USA. jbaier@lsuhsc.edu
Insights
Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) do not increase in premature infants who develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). These anti-inflammatory cytokines were not detected in tracheal aspirates, suggesting they do not play a significant role in BPD development.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Respiratory Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Infants developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) exhibit an exaggerated early inflammatory response.
- Anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13), typically balance inflammatory processes.
- IL-4 and IL-13 have demonstrated the ability to inhibit inflammatory cytokines implicated in BPD pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between IL-4 and IL-13 levels in neonatal tracheal aspirates and the subsequent development of BPD.
- To determine if the presence or absence of these anti-inflammatory cytokines in early life predicts BPD in premature infants.
Main Methods:
- Prospective collection of serial tracheal aspirates (TA) from 36 very low birth weight infants.
- Quantification of IL-4 and IL-13 concentrations in TAs using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Main Results:
- Infants who developed BPD were significantly more premature and had lower birth weights.
- IL-4 and IL-13 were detected infrequently and at very low levels in the analyzed TAs.
- No significant correlation was found between IL-4 and IL-13 levels and the development of BPD.
Conclusions:
- Tracheal aspirate concentrations of IL-4 and IL-13 do not significantly increase during acute lung injury in premature infants.
- The study did not find evidence supporting a protective role for IL-4 and IL-13 in the context of BPD development in this cohort.
Background:
An exaggerated inflammatory response occurs in the first few days of life in infants who subsequently develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The increase of inflammatory cytokines in many disease processes is generally balanced by a rise in anti-inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) have been shown to inhibit production of several inflammatory cytokines important in the development of BPD.
Methods:
We sought to determine if a correlation exists between the presence or absence of IL-4 and IL-13 in tracheal aspirates (TA) during the first 3 weeks of life and the development of BPD in premature infants. Serial TAs were prospectively obtained from 36 very low birth weight infants and IL-4 and IL-13 concentrations were determined by ELISA.
Results:
Infants who developed BPD (n = 19) were less mature (25.3 +/- 0.02 wks vs. 27.8 +/- 0.05 wks; p < 0.001), and had lower birth weights (739 +/- 27 g vs.1052 +/- 41 g; p < 0.001). IL-4 and IL-13 were detectable in only 27 of 132 and 9 of 132 samples assayed respectively. Furthermore, the levels detected for IL-4 and IL-13 were very low and did not correlate with the development of BPD.
Conclusions:
TA concentrations of IL-4 and IL-13 do not increase significantly during acute lung injury in premature infants.