AUTHOR=Sweetman Deirdre U. , Strickland Tammy , Melo Ashanty M. , Kelly Lynne A. , Onwuneme Chike , Watson William R. , Murphy John F. A. , Slevin Marie , Donoghue Veronica , O'Neill Amanda , Molloy Eleanor J. 

TITLE=Neonatal Encephalopathy Is Associated With Altered IL-8 and GM-CSF Which Correlates With Outcomes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.556216

DOI=10.3389/fped.2020.556216

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Aim:</bold> To investigate the relationship between cytokines associated with innate immune cell activation and brain injury and outcome in infants with NE compared to neonatal controls.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Serum and CSF biomarkers associated with activated neutrophils and monocytes [Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony-Stimulating-Factor (GM-CSF)] were serially measured using duplex immunoassays on days 1, 3 and 7 in term newborns with NE and controls. Results were compared to grade of encephalopathy, seizures, MRI brain imaging, mortality and Bayley Score of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) at 2 years of age.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Ninety-four infants had serum samples collected with 34 CSF samples. NE Grade II/III was significantly associated with elevated on day 2 serum IL-8. Mortality was best predicted by elevated day 1 IL-8. GM-CSF was initially elevated on day 1 and abnormal MRI imaging was associated with decreased day 2 GM-CSF. Elevated GM-CSF at day of life 6–7 correlated negatively with composite cognitive, language and motor Bayley-III scores at 2 years.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Moderate or severe NE and mortality was associated with elevated IL-8. Day 2 GM-CSF could predict abnormal MRI results in NE and Bayley-III. Therefore, these cytokines are altered in NE and may predict early outcomes and further implicate inflammatory processes in NE.</p>