Study on the correlation between Nrf2, NQO1 and neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Objective To analyze the correlation between the levels of serum nuclear factor NF-E2-associated factor (Nrf2) or serum quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Methods A total of 52 premature infants who were born in Department of Obstetrics, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2020 to June 2021 and transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) within 24 h after birth were selected as the subjects. According to the diagnostic criteria of BPD formulated by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the premature infants were divided into two groups: a BPD group (n=20) and a non-BPD group (n=32). Logistic regression was adopted to analyze the risk factor of BPD. The levels of serum Nrf2 and NQO1 in both groups were detected by ELISA on Days 1, 7 and 14 after birth, so as to explore the clinical significance of Nrf2 and NQO1 in neonatal BPD. Results A total of 60 infants who met inclusion criteria, while 8 cases were excluded according to the exclusion criteria. Then, 52 premature infants (20 cases in the BPD group and 32 cases in the non-BPD group) were enrolled in the current study.Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age, birth weight and oxygen intake time were the risk factors for BPD. The serum levels of Nrf2 and NQO1 in the BPD group were obviously higher than those in the non-BPD group at each time point, with statistical significance (P＜0.05). The levels of Nrf2 and NQO1 in the two groups showed an increasing trend with postnatal age. Conclusions Elevated levels of serum Nrf2 and NQO1 in premature infants early after birth may predict the occurrence of BPD, providing reference for early clinical diagnosis of BPD.