OBJECTIVETo explore the immunomechanism of chronic lung disease (CLD) in premature infants by investigating the changes of 17 cytokines.

METHODSTwenty-six preterm neonates who had been in the NICU for over 28 days were divided into CLD group (n=14) and control group consisting of 12 preterm neonates. Seventeen cytokines, namely interleukin 1b (IL-1b), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon-gamma, tumour necrosis factor alpha, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1b were detected in a single sample of peripheral blood by multi-plex technology (Bio-plex).

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the level of the 17 cytokines between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cytokines examined may not be involved in the later period pathogenesis of CLD.