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Published on: June 24, 2020
Increased fecal human beta-defensin-2 expression in preterm infants is associated with allergic disease development
Man-Chin Hua1,2, Chien-Chang Chen2,3, Sui-Ling Liao1,2
1Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
Insights
High fecal human beta-defensins (HBD)-2 levels at 12 months in preterm infants are linked to allergic disease development by age 2. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) showed no association.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal immunology
- Allergy research
- Gastrointestinal microbiome studies
Background:
- Preterm infants face increased risks for allergic diseases.
- Fecal biomarkers like human beta-defensins (HBD)-2 and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) may predict allergy development.
- Understanding these associations can inform early interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between fecal HBD-2 and ECP levels in preterm infants and the subsequent development of allergic diseases by age 2.
- To explore the influence of medication exposure on these biomarkers and allergy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Stool samples from 74 preterm infants were collected at 6 and 12 months.
- Fecal HBD-2 and ECP concentrations were measured.
- Medication exposure and physician-diagnosed allergic diseases were recorded via questionnaires and medical records.
- Logistic regression analyses identified independent predictors of allergic diseases.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated fecal HBD-2 levels at 12 months were observed in infants who developed allergic diseases (37.18 ng/g vs. 8.56 ng/g, P=0.011).
- This association was stronger in allergic infants exposed to antibiotics or antipyretics.
- Fecal HBD-2 at 12 months was an independent predictor of allergic diseases by age 2 (aOR=1.03, P=0.036).
- No association was found between fecal ECP and allergic diseases.
Conclusions:
- Elevated fecal HBD-2 at 12 months in preterm infants is associated with physician-diagnosed allergic diseases by age 2.
- Fecal HBD-2 may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting allergic disease development in this population.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of fecal HBD-2 in allergic disease pathogenesis.
Background:
This study aimed to investigate whether fecal human beta-defensins (HBD)-2 and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) expression in preterm infants are associated with allergic disease development by age 2 years.
Methods:
Preterm infants' stool samples were collected at the age of 6 and 12 months postnatally. Information regarding medication exposure histories (antibiotics, antipyretics, probiotics) and physician-diagnosed allergic diseases was obtained using age-specific questionnaires and medical records. We compared the 6-month and 12-month fecal HBD-2 and ECP concentrations between the medication exposure and non-exposure group, respectively, and between children who developed allergic diseases and those who did not by 2 years of age. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate independent variables related to physician-diagnosed allergic diseases by 2 years of age.
Results:
Seventy-four preterm infants (gestational age, 31-36 weeks) were included. Fecal HBD-2 levels were significantly increased at 12 months of age among children who developed allergic diseases compared to those who did not (37.18 ± 11.80 ng/g vs. 8.56 ± 4.33 ng/g, P = 0.011). This association was more apparent among allergic children given antibiotics (50.23 ± 16.15 ng/g vs. 9.75 ± 7.16 ng/g, P = 0.008) or antipyretics (46.12 ± 14.22 ng/g vs. 10.82 ± 6.81 ng/g, P = 0.018) during the first year, whereas among allergic children who were previously not exposed to antibiotics or antipyretics, the differences were not significant. Results of the multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that HBD-2 concentration in 12-month stools was an independent indicator associated with physician-diagnosed allergic diseases by 2 years of age (adjusted odds ratio: 1.03 [95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.05], P = 0.036). Our data revealed a lack of association between fecal ECP and allergic diseases.
Conclusions:
We found that preterm infants who expressed high fecal HBD-2 at 12 months of age were associated with physician-diagnosed allergic diseases by the age of 2 years. Further studies are needed to determine the role of fecal HBD-2 in the development of allergic diseases.
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