Kinetics of Circulating Progenitor Cells and Chemotactic Factors in Full-Term Neonates with Encephalopathy: Indications of Participation in the Endogenous Regenerative Process
Preclinical studies have shown that progenitor cells (PCs) are mobilized toward injured tissues to ameliorate damage and contribute to regeneration. The exogenous therapeutic administration of PCs in children affected by neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is a promising, yet underreported, topic. In this...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Nikolaos Efstathiou Georgios Koliakos Katerina Kantziou Georgios Kyriazis Aristeidis Slavakis Vasiliki Drossou Vasiliki Soubasi |
| author_facet | Nikolaos Efstathiou Georgios Koliakos Katerina Kantziou Georgios Kyriazis Aristeidis Slavakis Vasiliki Drossou Vasiliki Soubasi |
| author_sort | Nikolaos Efstathiou |
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| description | Preclinical studies have shown that progenitor cells (PCs) are mobilized toward injured tissues to ameliorate damage and contribute to regeneration. The exogenous therapeutic administration of PCs in children affected by neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is a promising, yet underreported, topic. In this prospective study, we investigated whether endogenous circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) are involved in intrinsic regeneration mechanisms following neonatal brain injury. Thirteen full-term infants with moderate/severe NE, eleven with perinatal stress, and twelve controls were enrolled. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 3, 9, 18, and 45, as well as at 8 and 24 months of life, and were analyzed with a focus on Endothelial Progenitor Cells, Haematopoietic Stem Cells, and Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells, in addition to chemotactic factors (erythropoietin, IGF-1, and SDF-1). Correlations between CPCs, chemotactic factors, and brain injury were assessed using serum levels of brain injury biomarkers (S100B and neuron-specific enolase), brain MRIs, and Bayley III developmental scores. Increased brain injury biomarkers were followed by the upregulation of SDF-1 receptor and erythropoietin and, finally, by elevated CPCs. These findings suggest a potential endogenous regenerative effort, primarily observed in the moderate encephalopathy group, but this is suppressed in cases of severe brain injury. Mimicking and enhancing endogenous regeneration pathways in cases of failure—regarding cell type and timeframe—could provide a novel therapeutic model. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4329baef0d0d4b65a9e6b7ae4560d35b |
| institution | OA Journals |
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| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-4329baef0d0d4b65a9e6b7ae4560d35b2025-08-20T02:11:18ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-03-0115342710.3390/biom15030427Kinetics of Circulating Progenitor Cells and Chemotactic Factors in Full-Term Neonates with Encephalopathy: Indications of Participation in the Endogenous Regenerative ProcessNikolaos Efstathiou0Georgios Koliakos1Katerina Kantziou2Georgios Kyriazis3Aristeidis Slavakis4Vasiliki Drossou5Vasiliki Soubasi61st Neonatal Clinic and NICU, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, GreeceBiochemistry Department, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece1st Neonatal Clinic and NICU, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, GreeceImmunology Department, Pulmonary Clinic, Papanikolaou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Exohi, 57010 Thessaloniki, GreeceBiochemistry Department, Hippokration General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece1st Neonatal Clinic and NICU, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece1st Neonatal Clinic and NICU, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54642 Thessaloniki, GreecePreclinical studies have shown that progenitor cells (PCs) are mobilized toward injured tissues to ameliorate damage and contribute to regeneration. The exogenous therapeutic administration of PCs in children affected by neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is a promising, yet underreported, topic. In this prospective study, we investigated whether endogenous circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) are involved in intrinsic regeneration mechanisms following neonatal brain injury. Thirteen full-term infants with moderate/severe NE, eleven with perinatal stress, and twelve controls were enrolled. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 3, 9, 18, and 45, as well as at 8 and 24 months of life, and were analyzed with a focus on Endothelial Progenitor Cells, Haematopoietic Stem Cells, and Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells, in addition to chemotactic factors (erythropoietin, IGF-1, and SDF-1). Correlations between CPCs, chemotactic factors, and brain injury were assessed using serum levels of brain injury biomarkers (S100B and neuron-specific enolase), brain MRIs, and Bayley III developmental scores. Increased brain injury biomarkers were followed by the upregulation of SDF-1 receptor and erythropoietin and, finally, by elevated CPCs. These findings suggest a potential endogenous regenerative effort, primarily observed in the moderate encephalopathy group, but this is suppressed in cases of severe brain injury. Mimicking and enhancing endogenous regeneration pathways in cases of failure—regarding cell type and timeframe—could provide a novel therapeutic model.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/3/427progenitor cellsneonateencephalopathyfull-termbraincirculating |
| spellingShingle | Nikolaos Efstathiou Georgios Koliakos Katerina Kantziou Georgios Kyriazis Aristeidis Slavakis Vasiliki Drossou Vasiliki Soubasi Kinetics of Circulating Progenitor Cells and Chemotactic Factors in Full-Term Neonates with Encephalopathy: Indications of Participation in the Endogenous Regenerative Process Biomolecules progenitor cells neonate encephalopathy full-term brain circulating |
| title | Kinetics of Circulating Progenitor Cells and Chemotactic Factors in Full-Term Neonates with Encephalopathy: Indications of Participation in the Endogenous Regenerative Process |
| title_full | Kinetics of Circulating Progenitor Cells and Chemotactic Factors in Full-Term Neonates with Encephalopathy: Indications of Participation in the Endogenous Regenerative Process |
| title_fullStr | Kinetics of Circulating Progenitor Cells and Chemotactic Factors in Full-Term Neonates with Encephalopathy: Indications of Participation in the Endogenous Regenerative Process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Kinetics of Circulating Progenitor Cells and Chemotactic Factors in Full-Term Neonates with Encephalopathy: Indications of Participation in the Endogenous Regenerative Process |
| title_short | Kinetics of Circulating Progenitor Cells and Chemotactic Factors in Full-Term Neonates with Encephalopathy: Indications of Participation in the Endogenous Regenerative Process |
| title_sort | kinetics of circulating progenitor cells and chemotactic factors in full term neonates with encephalopathy indications of participation in the endogenous regenerative process |
| topic | progenitor cells neonate encephalopathy full-term brain circulating |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/3/427 |
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