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Published on: July 30, 2016
Sudden infant death syndrome: Melatonin, serotonin, and CD34 factor as possible diagnostic markers and prophylactic
Dmitry Ivanov1, Ekaterina Mironova2,3, Victoria Polyakova1
1Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
Insights
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is linked to lower expression of melatonin receptors, serotonin, and CD34 markers in infants. This finding may lead to new SIDS diagnostic and prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Molecular Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains a leading cause of infant mortality globally.
- The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying SIDS pathogenesis are not fully understood.
- Melatonin, serotonin, and CD34 molecules are implicated in vital physiological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression levels of melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2), serotonin, and CD34 in infants who died from SIDS.
- To compare these expression levels in the medulla, heart, and aorta tissues between SIDS cases and controls.
- To elucidate the potential role of these molecules in SIDS development.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on tissue samples from infants aged 3-9 months.
- Tissues examined included the medulla, heart, and aorta.
- A control group of infants who died from accidental causes was included for comparison.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower expression of melatonin receptors, serotonin, and CD34 markers was observed in the medulla, heart, and aorta of SIDS infants compared to controls.
- CD34 was evaluated as a marker for cardiovascular damage and angiogenesis.
- Reduced expression suggests a potential link between these molecules and SIDS.
Conclusions:
- The study identifies reduced expression of melatonin receptors, serotonin, and CD34 as potential contributors to SIDS pathogenesis.
- These findings offer insights into the molecular mechanisms of SIDS.
- This research may pave the way for novel predictive diagnostic and prophylactic strategies for SIDS.
Abstract:
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is one of the primary causes of death of infants in the first year of life. According to the WHO's data, the global infant mortality rate is 0.64-2 per 1,000 live-born children. Molecular and cellular aspects of SIDS development have not been identified so far. The purpose of this paper is to verify and analyze the expression of melatonin 1 and 2 receptors, serotonin (as a melatonin precursor), and CD34 molecules (as hematopoietic and endothelial markers of cardiovascular damage) in the medulla, heart, and aorta in infants who died from SIDS. An immunohistochemical method was used to investigate samples of medulla, heart, and aorta tissues of infants 3 to 9 months of age who died from SIDS. The control group included children who died from accidents. It has been shown that the expression of melatonin receptors as well as serotonin and CD34 angiogenesis markers in tissues of the medulla, heart, and aorta of infants who died from SIDS is statistically lower as compared with their expression in the same tissues in children who died from accidents. The obtained data help to clarify in detail the role of melatonin and such signaling molecules as serotonin and CD34 in SIDS pathogenesis, which can open new prospects for devising novel methods for predictive diagnosis of development and targeted prophylaxis of SIDS.
