The Involvement of HIF-1α and BDNF in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Insult to the Cerebral Germinal Matrix

Perinatal asphyxia is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly among preterm infants, whose brains are highly vulnerable to hypoxic-ischemic injury. The germinal matrix (GM), owing to its vascular fragility and high metabolic demand, is especially susceptible in this context. This study analyzed 118 germinal matrix samples from neonates, stratified into three groups according to gestational age-Extremely Preterm (EP), Late Preterm (LP), and Term (T)-to investigate the immunopositivity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), correlating these findings with gestational age, the presence of asphyxia, neuronal injury, and survival time. BDNF expression showed a positive association with postnatal survival in neonates without neuronal injury (ρ = 0.309; p = 0.012). Linear regression analysis further demonstrated that BDNF immunopositivity was a significant predictor of survival time, with each 11.82% increase in positive staining corresponding to an additional predicted hour of survival (p < 0.001). HIF-1α expression was positively associated with survival in asphyxiated extremely preterm neonates (ρ = 0.492; p = 0.024) and demonstrated a strong correlation that approached, but did not reach, conventional statistical significance in late preterm neonates with neuronal injury (ρ = 0.949; p = 0.051). Collectively, these findings suggest a complementary role for BDNF and HIF-1α in neonatal neuroprotective responses, with BDNF showing potential as a prognostic biomarker in neonates without neuronal injury and HIF-1α reflecting adaptive responses to hypoxic-ischemic stress in a gestational age-dependent manner. However, additional studies are required to validate these associations and further clarify their prognostic and therapeutic relevance in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic conditions.