Cytokines and growth factors in the developing intestine and during necrotizing enterocolitis.

Krishnan MohanKumar, Kopperuncholan Namachivayam, Thao T B Ho, Benjamin A Torres, Robin K Ohls, Akhil Maheshwari

Journal: Seminars in perinatology 2018;41(1):52-60

PMID: 27832931

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Abstract

Cytokines and growth factors play diverse roles in the uninflamed fetal/neonatal intestinal mucosa and in the development of inflammatory bowel injury during necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). During gestational development and the early neonatal period, the fetal/premature intestine is exposed to high levels of many "inflammatory" cytokines and growth factors, first via swallowed amniotic fluid in utero and then, after birth, in colostrum and mother's milk. This article reviews the dual, seemingly counter-intuitive roles of cytokines, where these agents play a "trophic" role and promote maturation of the uninflamed mucosa, but can also cause inflammation and promote intestinal injury during NEC.

Address: Department of Pediatrics, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL.; Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.; Department of Pediatrics, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL; Departments of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL; Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 1 Tampa General Circle, Suite F170, Tampa, FL. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1053/j.semperi.2016.09.018

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MeSH Terms: Cytokines, Disease Susceptibility, Enterocolitis, Necrotizing, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight, Infant, Extremely Premature, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Diseases, Inflammation, Intestinal Mucosa