Umbilical cord blood CD45+/CD34+ cells coexpression in preterm and full-term neonates: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective. Human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) is rich in stem cells. The CD45+/CD34+ coexpression in hUCB is a marker of hemopoietic progenitor cells. The objective of this study is to compare the coexpression of hUCB CD45+/CD34+ cells in preterm (PT) and full-term (FT) neonates.Methods. We studied the coexpression of hUCB CD45+/CD34+ cells in PT and FT neonates. The study included 25 PT (29–36 weeks gestation) and 25 FT (37–41) neonates delivered at Ain Shams University, Maternity Hospital. Absolute mononuclear layer cord blood CD45+/CD34+ cell count were measured by flow cytometry. Morbidity was assessed for 12 of the studied 25 PT infants, using Morbidity Assessment Index for Newborns score.Results. The absolute CD45+/CD34+ count did not differ between PT and FT infants: Z = −0.485, p = 0.63. There was no correlation between absolute cell count and GA (r = 0.013, p = 0.9) for all 50 neonates. Mode of delivery did not affect the absolute count in the PT infants: Z = –0.6, p = 0.57. There was no correlation between the degree of morbidity and absolute cell count in PT neonates; r = 0.13, p = 0.69.Conclusion. The absolute cell count is not affected by gestational age and did not relate to morbidity scores in the studied PT infants. Further, wide-scale work will be needed to study CD45+/CD34+ count in hUCB in sick PT neonates.