Chorioamnionitis-exposure alters serum cytokine trends in premature neonates

OBJECTIVES: Determine if chronologic age and/or chorioamnionitis exposure alter normal serum cytokine and chemokine levels in uninfected preterm neonates during their initial NICU stay. STUDY DESIGN: A 7-plex immunoassay measured levels of serum IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha, CCL2, and CCL3 longitudinally from chorioamnionitis-exposed and unexposed preterm neonates under 33 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Chorioamnionitis-exposed and unexposed preterm neonates demonstrated differences in the trends of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and CCL2 over the first month of life. The unexposed neonates demonstrated elevated levels of these inflammatory markers in the first two weeks of life with a decrease by the third week of life, while the chorioamnionitis-exposed neonates demonstrated differences over time without a predictable pattern. Chorioamnionitis-exposed and unexposed neonates demonstrated altered IL-10 and TNF-alpha trajectories over the first twelve weeks of life. CONCLUSION: Chorioamnionitis induces a state of immune dysregulation in preterm neonates that persists beyond the immediate neonatal period.

Automated summary

This study aimed to determine if age and chorioamnionitis exposure affect serum cytokine and chemokine levels in preterm neonates. The results showed differences in the trends of inflammatory markers between chorioamnionitis-exposed and unexposed neonates during the first month of life. Chorioamnionitis-exposed neonates demonstrated altered IL-10 and TNF-alpha trajectories over the first twelve weeks of life.