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Abnormal Expression of Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Surface Markers in Retinopathy of Prematurity Patients
Rui Guo1, Fang Cheng1, Xiang-Jie Meng2,3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital of Shanxi and Women Health Center of Shanxi, Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030000, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Preterm infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) show altered immune cell profiles. Lower neutrophils and higher lymphocytes, including Th17 cells, are associated with ROP development.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal immunology
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric critical care
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in preterm infants.
- Understanding the immunological factors contributing to severe ROP is crucial for developing preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare immune cell profiles in preterm infants with and without severe ROP.
- To identify risk factors associated with the development of severe ROP in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 2,110 preterm infants.
- Identification of risk factors using multivariate logistic regression.
- Immunophenotypic analysis of peripheral blood immune cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes) via multicolor flow cytometry in 45 patients.
Main Results:
- Independent risk factors for severe ROP include gestational age < 28 weeks, birth weight < 1,000 g, and neonatal sepsis.
- Infants with severe ROP had a lower percentage of neutrophils and higher expression of CD81 compared to controls.
- The severe ROP group also exhibited a higher percentage of lymphocytes and Th17 cells.
Conclusions:
- Gestational age, birth weight, and neonatal sepsis are key risk factors for severe ROP.
- Elevated CD81 and Th17 cell levels in preterm infants suggest an inflammatory component involving neutrophils and lymphocytes in severe ROP pathogenesis.
Objective:
Our study compares immune cell profiles in preterm infants with and without severe ROP, identifying risk factors for its development to explore both immunological aspects and determinants of ROP in preterm infants.
Methods:
Infants born between January 2023 to December 2023 at the Children's Hospital of Shanxi were enrolled in this study according to the inclusion criteria. Patients were divided into a test group or a control group based on the need for Type 1 ROP treatment. Baseline data for both groups were compared. Neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte subsets in the peripheral blood were analyzed using immunophenotypic analysis via multicolor flow cytometry. This method allowed for the quantification of specific cell subset proportions.
Results:
A total of 2,110 preterm infants were screened for inclusion in the study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified gestational age below 28 weeks, birth weight less than 1,000 g, and neonatal sepsis as independent risk factors for severe ROP. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis was performed on blood samples from 45 preterm patients. Comparative analysis revealed that the test group had a lower percentage of neutrophils and higher expression of cluster of differentiation 81 (CD81) compared to the control group. Additionally, the test group showed a higher percentage of lymphocytes and a greater proportion of Th17 cells than the control group.
Conclusion:
Preterm gestational age, low birth weight, and neonatal sepsis increase severe ROP risk. Elevated CD81 and Th17 levels suggest inflammation linked to neutrophils and lymphocytes.
