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Neonatal cytokines associated with infant overweight and obesity at 1 year of age
Qi Hu1, Yuqing Zhang2, Minjuan Liu3
1Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Beilun District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo 315899, China.
Insights
Neonatal immune markers like GCSF and IL17A are linked to infant overweight and obesity. Early life immune status may significantly influence later obesity development, highlighting potential early detection and intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood overweight and obesity rates are rising globally.
- Immune dysregulation is associated with childhood obesity.
- The link between neonatal immune status and infant obesity is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between neonatal cytokine levels and infant overweight/obesity at one year of age.
- To explore potential early biomarkers for childhood obesity risk.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 514 neonates in Suzhou, China (2015-2016).
- Dried blood spots collected at birth; cytokine levels measured.
- Infants assessed for overweight/obesity at 1 year using BMI; 370 included in final analysis.
- Statistical analysis including logistic regression and inverse probability weighting (IPW).
Main Results:
- Neonatal Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF), Interleukin-17A (IL17A), and Platelet Derived Growth Factor-BB (PDGF-BB) levels were associated with infant overweight/obesity.
- GCSF and IL17A positively correlated with BMI and BMI z-scores.
- PDGF-BB negatively correlated with BMI and BMI z-scores.
- IPW confirmed findings, suggesting robustness against selection bias.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal levels of GCSF, IL17A, and PDGF-BB are correlated with infant overweight and obesity at one year.
- Early life immune status appears to play a significant role in the development of later obesity.
- These findings suggest potential for early identification of obesity risk based on neonatal immune profiles.
Objective:
The incidence of childhood overweight and obesity has been increasing in recent years. Immune dysregulation has been demonstrated as a condition related to childhood obesity. Whether the neonatal immune status is related to infant overweight and obesity at 1 year of age is unclear.
Methods:
To explore the relationship between neonatal cytokines and infant overweight and obesity, we conducted a prospective study in Suzhou Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from 2015 to 2016. 514 neonates were recruited and their dried blood spots were collected after birth. Infants were grouped into normal size groups and overweight and obesity groups based on BMI at 1 year of age. 27 neonatal cytokines levels were compared between the two groups.
Results:
370 infants were included in final analysis. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), interleukin-17A (IL17A) and platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) levels were independently associated with childhood overweight and obesity (OR =1.27, 95%CI 1.03, 1.57; OR =1.29, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.60; OR =0.69, 95%CI: 0.49, 0.96). Additionally, neonatal GCSF and IL17A levels were positively associated with increased BMI (β = 0.11, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.19; β = 0.07, 95%CI 0.01, 013) and BMI z-scores (β = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.18; β = 0.06, 95%CI 0.01, 0.13). Neonatal PDGF-BB levels were negatively associated with BMI (β = -0.12, 95%CI: -0.23, -0.01) and BMI z-scores (β = -0.12, 95%CI: -0.23, -0.01). The inverse probability weighting (IPW) was performed to account for potential selection bias of this study, and the results were consistent with the above mentioned findings.
Conclusions:
Neonatal GCSF, IL17A and PDGF-BB levels were correlated with infant overweight and obesity at 1 year of age, suggesting that early life immune status play a significant role of late obesity.
