The Change of Cytokines and Gut Microbiome in Preterm Infants for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

BackgroundBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a devastating form of chronic lung disease that develops in preterm infants. BPD is speculated to arise from abnormal inflammatory responses, which is related to the composition of commensal microbiota, leading us to hypothesize that BPD susceptibility could be influenced by gut microbiota through inflammatory responses. This study is aimed to detect cytokines and the differences in fecal gut microbial composition in the BPD patients. MethodsBetween June 2018 and June 2020, preterm infants born at gestational age <= 30 weeks were recruited. The clinical data of infant characteristics were collected. On days 3-7 and 14-28 after birth, fresh stool samples and serum were collected. The gut microbiota composition between the BPD group and controls was detected by 16S rRNA sequencing. On days 3-7 and days 14-28, ten cytokines including IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha were detected in the serum. ResultsThis study enrolled 38 preterm infants; the number of preterm infants in the BPD group and control group was, respectively, 18 and 20. The gestational age (27.4 +/- 1.5 weeks vs. 29.5 +/- 0.9 weeks, p = 0.000) and birth weight (971 +/- 240 g vs. 1262 +/- 335 g, p = 0.000) of the BPD group were lower than those of the control group. The present study found that the BPD group had high levels of IL-1 beta, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha, whereas IL-10 was decreased. The Shannon diversity index of the BPD group was lower. The relative abundances of Proteobacteria in BPD group increased significantly from days 3-7 to days 14-28, while the Firmicutes was decreased. On days 14-28, the relative abundances of Proteobacteria in BPD group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the Firmicutes was lower. ConclusionBronchopulmonary dysplasia could be influenced by gut microbiota through inflammatory responses. More studies are needed to explore the imbalance of cytokines and microbiome in BPD infants and whether it could be reversed by probiotics. This study provided a novel perspective for treating BPD.

Automated summary

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a devastating form of chronic lung disease that develops in preterm infants, speculated to arise from abnormal inflammatory responses related to commensal microbiota, leading to the hypothesis that BPD susceptibility could be influenced by gut microbiota through inflammatory responses. The study found differences in cytokines and fecal gut microbial composition between the BPD group and controls, with higher levels of certain cytokines and alterations in microbiota composition in the BPD group. Further research is needed to explore the imbalance of cytokines and microbiome in BPD infants and potential reversibility through probiotics.