Expression of Serum Cytokines Profile in Neonatal Sepsis

Abstract BackgroundSepsis remains a major cause of neonatal death, but its underlying pathological mechanisms are poorly understood. Methods To characterize the serum cytokine/chemokine profile in neonates with sepsis, we enrolled 40 full-term neonates with sepsis and 19 neonates without infection as controls. Forty cytokines/chemokines in serum were analyzed using the Luminex Bead Immunoassay System. Serum IL-17 was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultsOur results showed that serum IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1β, MIF, CXCL13, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL5, CXCL6, CXCL16, CCL27, CCL2, CCL8, CCL3, CCL20, CCL23, CCL27, and CX3CL1 levels were significantly increased in neonates with sepsis compared to those in the control group (all p<0.05). The levels of serum CXCL6, CXCL1, IL-6, CXCL10, CXCL11, CCL20, and IL-17 were higher in late-onset sepsis (LOS) than in early-onset sepsis (EOS) (all p<0.05). Conversely, serum IL-16, CXCL16, and CCL22 were lower in LOS than in EOS (all p<0.05). The levels of CX3CL1, CXCL2, CCL8, and TNF-α were all positively correlated with SOFA scores. ConclusionOur findings revealed that excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines might be involved in neonatal sepsis. In addition, chemokines significantly increased the recruitment of immune cells after infection to participate in the anti-infection defense of neonates, but this could lead to damage.