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Diminished protection against copper-induced lipid peroxidation by cord blood plasma of preterm and term infants
J H Lindeman1, E G Lentjes, H M Berger
1Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Insights
Neonatal plasma has a limited capacity to prevent copper-induced oxidative damage compared to adult plasma. This suggests newborns may be more vulnerable to oxidative stress, necessitating further research into postnatal development and nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neonatal Physiology
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Neonatal plasma exhibits reduced ability to inhibit iron-induced lipid peroxidation compared to adult plasma.
- Copper, a pro-oxidant, can accumulate in ill infants due to excessive intake or impaired excretion.
- This study investigates the in vitro capacity of neonatal plasma to inhibit copper-induced peroxidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the antioxidant capacity of neonatal and adult plasma against copper-induced lipid peroxidation.
- To evaluate the role of albumin and ceruloplasmin in protecting against copper-induced oxidative damage in neonates.
- To assess differences in protective capabilities between preterm and term neonates.
Main Methods:
- Lipid peroxidation in phospholipid liposomes induced by copper chloride (CuCl2) was quantified using a thiobarbituric acid assay.
- Plasma from adult venous blood and neonatal cord blood was used to assess inhibition of peroxidation.
- Plasma levels of copper-binding proteins, albumin and ceruloplasmin, were measured.
Main Results:
- Adult plasma demonstrated significantly higher protection against copper-induced lipid peroxidation than neonatal plasma.
- Plasma from preterm infants offered greater protection than that of term infants, despite lower albumin and ceruloplasmin levels.
- Neonatal plasma's ability to inhibit copper-induced peroxidation is notably lower than adult plasma.
Conclusions:
- Infants possess a restricted in vitro ability to inhibit copper-induced oxidative damage at birth.
- Further postnatal studies are required to understand the impact of maturation and nutrition on these findings.
- The relevance of these findings in diseases associated with reactive oxygen species needs investigation.
Background:
Blood plasma of neonates is less able to inhibit iron induced lipid peroxidation than plasma of older patients. Copper, also a powerful pro-oxidant, may accumulate in ill babies because of excess intake or decreased excretion. We assessed in vitro the ability of plasma of neonates to inhibit copper induced peroxidation damage.
Methods:
Peroxidation of phospholipid liposomes, induced by CuCl2, was measured with a thiobarbituric acid assay. The ability of plasma from venous blood of adults and cord blood of babies to inhibit peroxidation was compared. The levels of the copper binding plasma proteins, albumin and ceruloplasmin, were also measured.
Results:
Protection against copper induced lipid peroxidation was much higher with adult plasma compared to neonatal plasma. Despite their lower albumin and ceruloplasma levels the protection by the plasma of preterm babies was higher than that of the term babies.
Conclusions:
At birth, babies have a limited ability to inhibit copper induced oxidative damage in vitro. Postnatal studies are needing to assess the influence of maturation and nutrition on these findings and their relevance in diseases induced by reactive oxygen species.