Phagocyte chemiluminescence in pre-term infants
Related Experiment Videos
L A Pierce1, W O Tarnow-Mordi, I A Cree
1Department of Pathology, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, UK.
Insights
Phagocyte function in preterm infants is crucial for fighting infection but can worsen infant respiratory distress syndrome. This study monitored phagocyte respiratory burst, finding it linked to respiratory distress and ventilation, with antibiotics showing minor effects.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal immunology
- Respiratory medicine
- Cellular immunology
Background:
- Phagocyte function is vital for infection defense but implicated in infant respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) pathogenesis.
- Preterm infants exhibit deficient phagocyte function, increasing risks for both infection and RDS due to surfactant deficiency.
- Longitudinal studies on phagocyte function in preterm infants are scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess phagocyte respiratory burst function in preterm infants.
- To investigate the association between phagocyte function and the development of RDS.
- To evaluate the impact of medical interventions on phagocyte function in this population.
Main Methods:
- Lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence was used to measure the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocytes.
- Samples from 100 preterm infants were analyzed at 48- to 72-hour intervals during neonatal care unit admission.
- Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to identify influencing factors.
Main Results:
- Increased polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemiluminescence correlated with RDS and intermittent positive pressure ventilation.
- Gentamicin and penicillin use showed a slight, significant depression of chemiluminescence, even when accounting for RDS severity.
- Phagocyte function measurement via luminescence assays requires minimal blood volume.
Conclusions:
- Phagocyte function assessment using luminescence assays may help monitor RDS severity in preterm infants.
- While antibiotics had a minor impact, RDS and ventilation significantly influenced phagocyte function.
- Antioxidant capacity likely plays a crucial role in modulating tissue damage, independent of phagocyte function.
Abstract:
Intact phagocyte function is a pre-requisite for successful defence against infection, but paradoxically, these cells may also play a major role in the pathogenesis of the infant respiratory distress syndrome. Phagocyte function is known to be deficient in pre-term infants, who are at risk of infection as a result, but these infants are also at risk of respiratory distress syndrome as a result of surfactant deficiency. Despite this, few longitudinal studies of phagocyte function have been performed in pre-term infants. We have used lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence to examine the respiratory burst of mixed samples containing polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocytes of 100 pre-term infants at 48- to 72-h intervals during their admission to a neonatal care unit. Increased polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemiluminescence was associated with respiratory distress syndrome and the use of intermittent positive pressure ventilation. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a slight, but significant depression of chemiluminescence in association with the use of gentamicin and penicillin when stronger influencing factors such as the presence of respiratory distress syndrome were taken into consideration. Measurement of phagocyte function by sensitive luminescence assays requires very little blood and may be useful in pre-term infants to follow the severity of respiratory distress syndrome. However, it is probable that other factors such as antioxidant capacity also have an important influence on the degree of tissue damage.