Neonatal neutrophils with prolonged survival secrete mediators associated with chronic inflammation.

BACKGROUND The resolution of inflammation involves the efficient removal of apoptotic neutrophils (PMN). However, a subpopulation of PMN that are resistant to apoptosis may contribute to PMN persistence in tissues, an early hallmark of chronic inflammation. We previously made observations that neonatal PMN with prolonged survival had augmented expression of CD18/CD11b, an adhesion molecule critical to inflammation. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to test the hypothesis that surviving neonatal PMN retain the capacity to secrete key mediators associated with chronic inflammation. METHODS We profiled cytokine and chemokine secretion patterns of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neonatal and adult PMN using multicytokine array and ELISA. RESULTS We observed that surviving 24-hour neonatal PMN stimulated with LPS had enhanced secretion of interleukin (IL)-8, a chemokine involved in PMN activation and recruitment. In addition, 24-hour neonatal PMN secreted levels of monocyte inhibitory protein (MIP)-1β that were higher than those secreted by 0-hour PMN, but amounts of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) were lower. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study extend previous observations of augmented function in surviving neonatal neutrophils, and further suggest their potential contribution to the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders in neonates.