Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein (MCP)-1 in Rotavirus-Associated White Matter Injury in Newborns

Abstract

Recent reports have suggested an association between rotavirus infection and a distinctive pattern of white matter injury (WMI) in neonates with seizures; however, the connection between the two is not fully understood. To evaluate the underlying mechanism, we profiled and compared eight cytokines (IL [interleukin]-1 beta , IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN- gamma [interferon- gamma ], MCP-1 [monocyte chemoattractant protein-1], MIP-1 beta [macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta ], and TNF- alpha [tumor necrosis factor- alpha ]) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 33 neonates with seizures who had no other well-known causes of seizures and 13 control patients (rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis but without seizures). Among the 33 neonates with seizures, 9 showed WMI and all were infected with rotavirus (R + W + ). Among the 24 patients without WMI, 11 were infected with rotavirus (R + W - ) and 13 were not (R - W - ).Only MCP-1 and MIP-1 beta were different between the groups. MCP-1 was increased in R+ W+ compared with R + W- ( p < 0.01), R - W- ( p < 0.01), and control ( p = 0.03) patients. MIP-1 beta was decreased in R + W+ compared with R - W- ( p < 0.01) and control ( p < 0.01), but not R + W- ( p = 0.23) patients. MCP-1 and MIP-1 beta are C-C chemokines that recruit immune cells to the site of inflammation. Our pilot study suggests MCP-1-mediated monocyte recruitment may be linked with this complication caused by rotavirus.