Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2022 Jan;10(1):40-44. 10.4168/aard.2022.10.1.40.

Eosinophil activation markers in blood and urine in preterms developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia

• Choi SH
• Chung SH
• Lee KS
• Bae CW
• Rha YH

• KMID: 2525465
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2022.10.1.40

Abstract

Purpose
Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) is not the only a marker for eosinophil activation, but also acts as an alarm protein. Very few studies have examined the potential role of eosinophils in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study aims to address the roles of eosinophil and EDN in the early phase of BPD development.
Methods
Patients were preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) born at 36 weeks of gestation or less. Blood and urine samples were collected to measure total eosinophil count in the blood, serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), serum EDN, and urinary EDN during the first week of life.
Results
Fifty-two preterms were recruited, of whom 43 infants were analyzed. Comparisons were made between the RDS (n = 16) and non-RDS groups (n = 27) and between the BPD (n = 6) and non-BPD groups (n = 26). There were no differences between RDS and non-RDS group in total eosinophil count, serum ECP, serum EDN, or urinary EDN, except when compared by gestational age, birth weight and prenatal dexamethasone use. Urinary EDN was increased significantly in the BPD group compared to the non-BPD group.
Conclusion
We demonstrated the roles of eosinophil and EDN in the development of BPD and suggest that urinary EDN may be utilized as a noninvasive factor predicting the development of BPD.

Keyword

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin; Eosinophils; Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Preterm