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Prohepcidin concentrations and erythroid progenitors in cord blood of appropriate versus small for gestational age

G Amarilyo1, F B Mimouni, A Oren

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|November 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Small for gestational age (SGA) infants do not show altered cord blood prohepcidin (Pro-Hep) levels. This finding contrasts with increased erythropoietin (EPO) and erythroid progenitors in SGA newborns, suggesting Pro-Hep is unaffected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Iron metabolism
  • Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)

Background:

  • Prohepcidin (Pro-Hep) is the precursor to hepcidin (Hep), a key regulator of iron absorption.
  • Hepcidin synthesis is influenced by inflammation (increased) and hypoxia (decreased).
  • Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) may experience altered physiological states.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that SGA infants exhibit reduced cord blood Pro-Hep concentrations.
  • To compare Pro-Hep levels in SGA infants versus appropriate for gestational age (AGA) controls.

Main Methods:

  • Cord blood samples were collected from 20 SGA and 20 AGA infants.
  • Exclusion criteria included maternal chronic diseases, smoking, diabetes, alcohol, or drug use.
  • Serum Pro-Hep and erythropoietin (EPO) were measured using ELISA; erythroid progenitors were assessed via flow cytometry.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in hemoglobin or Pro-Hep concentrations were observed between SGA and AGA groups.
  • EPO levels and circulating erythroid progenitors were significantly elevated in SGA infants.
  • These findings persisted after controlling for gestational age and gravidity.

Conclusions:

  • Cord blood Pro-Hep concentrations are not significantly affected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
  • This contrasts with the observed upregulation of EPO and erythroid progenitors in SGA infants.
  • Pro-Hep levels do not appear to be a reliable marker for IUGR in this cohort.
Abstract

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