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Longitudinal transcriptional immune profiles and persistent wheezing in moderate-to-late preterm infants
Rosa Rodriguez-Fernandez1,2, Zhaohui Xu3, Antonio Moreno-Galdó4,5
1Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Infant wheezing is linked to early immune gene changes. Moderate to late preterm infants with wheezing showed altered interferon and B cell gene expression, suggesting specific immunological pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal immunology
- Pediatric respiratory health
- Gene expression analysis
Background:
- Prematurity increases the risk of persistent wheezing, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for early intervention in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify blood transcriptional profiles associated with wheezing development in moderate to late preterm infants.
- To define immune gene expression changes linked to wheezing in this population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a multicenter birth cohort (SAREPREM) of moderate-late preterm children followed for 3 years.
- Longitudinal evaluation including wheezing assessment and transcriptional profile analysis using Illumina HT12 chips.
- Genomic expression analysis performed with R programming, modular analysis, and QuSAGE.
Main Results:
- Seventy-six children were analyzed; 43 developed wheezing.
- Early life (Y0) showed decreased interferon (IFN) gene expression and increased B cell gene expression in infants who later wheezed.
- These immune gene expression changes were more pronounced in persistent wheezers.
Conclusions:
- Early life alterations in IFN and B lymphocyte gene expression indicate specific immunological mechanisms.
- These immune pathways are significant in the development of wheezing in late-preterm infants.
Background:
Prematurity is associated with an increased risk of persistent wheezing but the underlying mechanisms are not well defined. The aim of this study was to identify blood transcriptional profiles associated with the development of wheezing in a cohort of moderate to late preterm infants and to define immune gene expression changes associated with wheezing.
Materials And Methods:
A convenience sample of a multicenter birth cohort (SAREPREM) of moderate-late preterm children followed during the first 3 years of life was analyzed. Children were enrolled in the first 2 weeks of life (Y0) and longitudinally evaluated at 1 (Y1), 2 (Y2), and 3 years (Y3) of age, for the presence of wheezing and to obtain samples for transcriptional profile analysis. Samples were processed on Illumina HT12 chips and genomic expression analyses performed with R programming, modular analysis for biological function, and QuSAGE for quantitative gene expression.
Results:
Seventy-six children were included in the study; 33 were classified as non-wheezing and 43 (56.6%) in the wheezing group. At Y0, children who developed wheezing had decreased expression of interferon genes and increased expression of B cell genes compared with the non-wheezing group. These changes in IFN and B cell gene expression were especially significant in children with late/persistent wheezing compared with transient wheezers.
Conclusions:
Changes in IFN and B lymphocyte gene expression identified in early life suggest the existence of specific immunological mechanisms that play an important role in the development of wheezing in late-preterm infants.
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