Chorioamnionitis-exposure alters serum cytokine trends in premature neonates

Objective: Determine the duration of chorioamnionitis-induced altered immune responses in preterm neonates. Study Design: A 7-plex immunoassay measured levels of IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-a, CCL2 and CCL3 longitudinally in residual serum samples from chorioamnionitis-exposed and unexposed preterm neonates less than 33 weeks’ gestation. Results: Chorioamnionitis-exposed and unexposed preterm neonates demonstrated differences in the trends of IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-a and CCL2 over the first month of life. The unexposed neonates demonstrated elevated levels of these inflammatory markers in the first one to two weeks of life with a decrease to baseline levels 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-a trajectories over the first twelve weeks of life. Conclusion: Chorioamnionitis induces a state of immune dysregulation that persists for at least twelve weeks following delivery in preterm neonates.