Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
08:58

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

Published on: October 31, 2025

Early alterations of growth factor patterns in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from preterm infants developing

Jasper V Been1, Anne Debeer, J Freek van Iwaarden

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht 6202 AZ, The Netherlands. jasper.been@mumc.nl

Pediatric Research
|September 23, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Early imbalances in lung growth factors like VEGF and TGF-alpha are linked to chronic lung disease of prematurity (bronchopulmonary dysplasia). These alterations in preterm infants may predict BPD development.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pulmonary Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Chronic lung disease of prematurity, also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), is a significant cause of morbidity in premature infants.
  • BPD is characterized by impaired lung development, leading to long-term respiratory problems.
  • Early detection and understanding of BPD pathogenesis are crucial for improving outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate early alterations in pulmonary growth factor expression in preterm infants.
  • To determine if these growth factor changes precede the development of BPD.
  • To identify specific growth factors that can predict BPD development.

Main Methods:

  • Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected from 62 ventilated preterm infants on postnatal days 0, 1, 3, and 7.
  • BALF was analyzed for total phospholipids (PL) and key growth factors: VEGF, PDGF-BB, TGF-alpha, TGF-beta1, GM-CSF, and KGF.
  • Levels were compared between infants who developed BPD and those who remained BPD-free, with adjustments for confounders.

Main Results:

  • Infants who developed BPD showed higher overall GM-CSF and lower overall latent TGF-beta1 and total PL.
  • Significantly lower levels of VEGF and TGF-alpha were observed in BPD infants on days 0 and/or 3.
  • Day 0 VEGF levels demonstrated the highest predictive value for BPD development (AUC = 0.87).

Conclusions:

  • Substantial alterations in BALF growth factor profiles are evident in infants who develop BPD.
  • An early imbalance in pulmonary growth factors appears to contribute to the lung developmental arrest characteristic of BPD.
  • VEGF and TGF-alpha levels on day 0 are promising early biomarkers for predicting BPD risk.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Breathing01:05

Breathing

The process of breathing, inhaling and exhaling, involves the coordinated movement of the chest wall, the lungs, and the muscles that move them. Two muscle groups with important roles in breathing are the diaphragm, located directly below the lungs, and the intercostal muscles, which lie between the ribs. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and creating more room for the lungs to expand. When the intercostal muscles contract, the ribs...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...