OBJECTIVETo study the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and its significance in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 96 very low birth weight infants (gestational age of ≤ 32 weeks) who survived for more than 28 days and were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between January 2010 and December 2012. These subjects were divided into BPD group (n=21) and non-BPD group (n=75). The expression of TGF-β1 and PAI-1 in blood was measured by ELISA.

RESULTSThe levels of TGF-β1 and PAI-1 in the BPD group increased gradually from the 7th day to the 14th day and then to the 21st day after birth, and were significantly higher than in the non-BPD group at all time points (P<0.01). The TGF-β1 and PAI-1 levels in the non-BPD group on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days after birth were not significantly different from each other (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of TGF-β1 and PAI-1 in blood is elevated in premature infants with BPD, which may be associated with the development of BPD.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; etiology ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; blood ; Retrospective Studies ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood