Genetic and Biochemical Predictors of Neonatal Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Abstract

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication of prematurity with a multifactorial etiology, influenced by both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors on the immature lung. Fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 and -4 (FGFR-3 and FGFR-4) are abundantly expressed in both the epithelium and mesenchyme in the developing mammalian lung. FGFR-4 may play a role in developing BPD as it is associated with airway inflammation and remodeling; studies showed a link between BPD and a polymorphism in the FGFR-4 gene. The aim of this study was to study the significance of FGFR-4 in developing BPD and to investigate the correlation between its serum level and its genetic polymorphism in relation to development of BPD in preterms. This case–control study was performed on 80 preterm neonates (<32 weeks) divided into two groups: group I included 50 preterms with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) who developed BPD and group II included 30 preterms with RDS only. The mean serum level of FGFR-4 was significantly lower in group I than in group II (p-value < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the serum levels of FGFR-4 and the degree of severity of BPD. Allele variation in the FGFR-4 gene was similar in both groups. The serum level of FGFR-4 was significantly lower in preterms with BPD, although the gene polymorphism was not significantly different in the studied groups.

Keywords

bronchopulmonary dysplasia - genetic polymorphism - fibroblast growth factor receptor-4

Authors' Contributions

All authors have substantially contributed to the intellectual content of this article. M.A.K.A. was involved in study design, conception and acquisition of clinical data, clinical application of results, manuscript writing, revising the article for intellectual content, and final approval of the version to be published. E.E. revised the article for intellectual content and did final approval of the version to be published. W.R. was involved in study design, biochemical and genetic analysis, interpretation of the results and data analysis, manuscript writing, revising the article for intellectual content, and final approval of the version to be published. A.A.E.A. performed acquisition of data and samples, genetic analysis and laboratory work, interpretation of results, and data analysis. W.S. was involved in study design, conception and acquisition of clinical data and clinical application of results, manuscript writing, revising the article for intellectual content, and final approval of the version to be published.

Publication History

Received: 11 July 2020

Accepted: 08 November 2020

Article published online:
06 January 2021

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