PAFNETs: Protection or Harm in Neonatal Inflammation or Infection

This is a prospective in vitro cell biology study of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) protein synthesis in response to PAF. PMNs from cord blood of premature human infants at risk for NEC (birth weight between 501 - 1500 grams) and PMNs from cord blood of healthy term infants will be isolated and stimulated with PAF, a biologically active phospholipid implicated in the pathogenesis of NEC. NEC, a disease of prematurity with an incidence of 10.1% of infants born weighing between 501 - 1500 grams, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We will compare the protein synthesis of inflammatory modulators, including Interleukin 6 Receptor alpha (IL-6R alpha) and Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha (RAR alpha) proteins to protein synthesis responses already observed in PMNs isolated from healthy adults. Furthermore, we will characterize the expression and activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) translational protein synthesis control pathway in PMNs isolated from preterm and term infants and compare those results with previous observations in PMNs isolated from adults. This pathway is known to regulate IL-6R alpha and RAR alpha protein expression in PMNs isolated from adults. We will also follow those premature infants at risk for NEC clinically to determine which infants develop NEC and what risk factors may be associated with NEC in this population.