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Published on: August 7, 2017
Normative levels of Interleukin 16 in umbilical cord blood
N M Denihan1, Am Looney, G B Boylan
1Neonatal Brain Research Group, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland.
Insights
This study establishes normal ranges for Interleukin 16 (IL-16) in umbilical cord blood of healthy newborns. These findings are crucial for predicting outcomes in neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Biomarker Discovery
- Perinatal Research
Background:
- Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) requires early outcome prediction.
- Interleukin 16 (IL-16) shows potential as a biomarker in HIE.
- Normal Interleukin 16 (IL-16) levels in umbilical cord blood (UCB) are not established.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine normative Interleukin 16 (IL-16) levels in term neonate UCB from uncomplicated deliveries.
- Investigate the impact of labor on cord Interleukin 16 (IL-16) values.
Main Methods:
- Utilized UCB samples from the Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study.
- Analyzed samples from uncomplicated pre-labour caesarean sections and spontaneous vaginal deliveries.
- Quantified Interleukin 16 (IL-16) using ELISA Quantikine®.
Main Results:
- Established a normal range for IL-16 in UCB (87.0–114.6 pg/ml).
- The overall mean IL-16 level was 102.9 (21.5) pg/ml.
- IL-16 levels were not significantly affected by delivery mode or infant gender.
Conclusions:
- Described, for the first time, the expected range of cord plasma IL-16 in healthy term infants.
- Provides a reference for IL-16 levels in uncomplicated deliveries.
- Supports the potential of IL-16 as a predictive biomarker in neonatal HIE.
Objectives:
The need for early and accurate prediction of outcome in hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) remains critical. We have previously demonstrated that Interleukin 16 (IL-16) is raised in the umbilical cord blood (UCB) of infants with moderate and severe HIE and has the potential to be developed as a predictive biomarker. Normal reference ranges for IL-16 in UCB have not been previously described. The aim of this study was to determine normative levels of IL-16 in full term neonates using UCB following uncomplicated deliveries and to examine the effect of labour on cord IL-16 values.
Design And Methods:
Full term infants were recruited as part of an ongoing birth cohort study, the Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study. All had UCB drawn and bio-banked at -80°C, within 3hours of birth. Samples for this experiment were chosen from this population based cohort study to represent uncomplicated pre-labour caesarean sections and spontaneous vaginal deliveries. Analysis was performed on plasma EDTA, using ELISA Quantikine® (R&D Systems, Europe).
Results:
Samples were analysed from 48 infants with two modes of delivery; spontaneous vaginal delivery (n=12 male, n=12 female) and elective caesarean section (n=12 male, n=12 female). The range of all samples was normally distributed between 87.0 and 114.6pg/ml. Overall mean (SD) for IL-16 was 102.9 (21.5) pg/ml. Levels were not affected by spontaneous vaginal delivery or gender.
Conclusion:
For the first time we have described the expected range of cord plasma IL-16 levels in healthy term infants following pre-labour and post-labour delivery.
