Serum brain injury biomarkers are gestationally and post-natally regulated in non-brain injured neonates

IL-8 (CXCL8) Correlations with Psychoneuroimmunological Processes and Neuropsychiatric Conditions

Interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8), an essential CXC chemokine, significantly influences psychoneuroimmunological processes and affects neurological and psychiatric health. It exerts a profound effect on immune cell activation and brain function, suggesting potential roles in both neuroprotection and neuroinflammation. IL-8 production is stimulated by several factors, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) known to promote inflammation and disease progression. Additionally, CXCL8 gene polymorphisms can alter IL-8 production, leading to potential differences in disease susceptibility, progression, and severity across populations. IL-8 levels vary among neuropsychiatric conditions, demonstrating sensitivity to psychosocial stressors and disease severity. IL-8 can be detected in blood circulation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine, making it a promising candidate for a broad-spectrum biomarker. This review highlights the need for further research on the diverse effects of IL-8 and the associated implications for personalized medicine. A thorough understanding of its complex role could lead to the development of more effective and personalized treatment strategies for neuropsychiatric conditions.

The cerebrospinal fluid proteome of preterm infants predicts neurodevelopmental outcome

BACKGROUND

Survival rate increases for preterm infants, but long-term neurodevelopmental outcome predictors are lacking. Our primary aim was to determine whether a specific proteomic profile in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of preterm infants differs from that of term infants and to identify novel biomarkers of neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants.

METHODS

Twenty-seven preterm infants with median gestational age 27 w + 4 d and ten full-term infants were enrolled prospectively. Protein profiling of CSF were performed utilizing an antibody suspension bead array. The relative levels of 178 unique brain derived proteins and inflammatory mediators, selected from the Human Protein Atlas, were measured.

RESULTS

The CSF protein profile of preterm infants differed from that of term infants. Increased levels of brain specific proteins that are associated with neurodevelopment and neuroinflammatory pathways made up a distinct protein profile in the preterm infants. The most significant differences were seen in proteins involved in neurodevelopmental regulation and synaptic plasticity, as well as components of the innate immune system. Several proteins correlated with favorable outcome in preterm infants at 18-24 months corrected age. Among the proteins that provided strong predictors of outcome were vascular endothelial growth factor C, Neurocan core protein and seizure protein 6, all highly important in normal brain development.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest a vulnerability of the preterm brain to postnatal events and that alterations in protein levels may contribute to unfavorable neurodevelopmental outcome.