Changes in serum human cartilage glycoprotein-39 and high-mobility group box 1 in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Abstract

To study the association of the dynamic changes of peripheral blood human cartilage glycoprotein-39 (YKL-40) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Preterm infants, with a gestational age of 28-32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from July 2017 to August 2019 were prospectively selected and divided into a BPD group with 35 infants and a non-BPD group with 51 infants. ELISA was used to measure the serum concentrations of YKL-40 and HMGB1 in preterm infants on days 3, 7, and 14 after birth. The BPD group had a significantly lower serum YKL-40 concentration and a significantly higher serum HMGB1 concentration than the non-BPD group on days 3, 7, and 14 (P<0.001). The serum concentrations of YKL-40 and HMGB1 on days 7 and 14 were significantly higher than those on day 3 in both groups (P<0.017). In the BPD group, HMGB1 concentration on day 14 was significantly higher than that on day 7 (P<0.017), while there was no significant change in YKL-40 concentration from day 7 to day 14 (P>0.017). In the non-BPD group, YKL-40 concentration on day 14 was significantly higher than that on day 7 (P<0.017), while there was no significant change in HMGB1 concentration from day 7 to day 14 (P>0.017). There are significant differences in the levels of YKL-40 and HMGB1 in peripheral blood between the preterm infants with BPD and those without BPD on days 3, 7, and 14 after birth, suggesting that YKL-40 and HMGB1 might be associated with the development of BPD.