Constitutively high-level expression of TGFβ isoforms in cord blood and its relationship to perinatal findings

• TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 were consistently at extremely high levels in cord blood.
• Fetal TGFβ might be regulated by a different mechanism from the other cytokines.
• TGFβ levels in cord blood were related to gestational age and birth weight.
• TGF-β1 and -β2 were higher in male and lower in fetal growth restriction patients.
• The several neonatal complications were related to the level of TGFβ1 in cord blood.

BackgroundThe clinical significance of TGFβ isoforms in cord blood is not well understood.MethodsWe obtained cord blood samples from 37 term infants and 85 preterm infants who were born in several clinical settings. The serum levels of 3 TGFβ isoforms and of the other 17 cytokines in cord blood were investigated using cytometric bead array technology.ResultsVery high levels of TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 isoforms compared to the level of other cytokines were found; mean levels were 44,180 and 1871 pg/mL, respectively. The levels of all 3 isoforms of TGFβ were significantly correlated with birth weight, and the levels of TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 were correlated with gestational age. The levels of TGFβ1 and β2 isoforms were strongly correlated with each other, but not with levels of other cytokines. The levels of TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 were significantly higher in male infants and significantly lower in infants with fetal growth restriction. The prevalence of chronic lung disease was related to a low level of TGFβ1, and that of patent ductus arteriosus was related to a high level of TGFβ1 in preterm infants.ConclusionsTGFβ1 and TGFβ2 appeared to play a significant role in physiological and pathological conditions in the fetus. TGFβ isoform levels appear to be regulated independently of those of other cytokines and do not appear to be influenced by inflammation in the fetal period. The role of TGFβ3 in cord blood and the postnatal chronological changes of the TGFβ isoforms should be investigated in the future.