Background: Exosomes, which are observed in all human fluid, including serum, are nanosized extracellular vesicles with a mechanism of intercellular communication. Potential clinical applications of exosomes in neonatal diseases have recently been discussed. However, the characteristics of exosomes in serum during early infancy is unclear.
Methods: In this prospective study, we evaluated the chronological changes in the concentration of serum-derived exosomes of 20 infants for 12 months after birth.
Results: The average concentration of serum-derived exosomes was 4.6 × 1010 particles/mL at birth and increased significantly until the age of 48 weeks. There was a moderate correlation between the gestational age and the concentration of serum-derived exosomes both at birth (r = 0.54, P = 0.01) and during the 8 weeks after birth (r = 0.48, P < 0.001). A multivariable analysis showed that gestational age at birth was associated with the concentration of serum-derived exosomes at birth (partial regression coefficient, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-1.37; P = 0.002).
Conclusions: The concentration of serum-derived exosomes in preterm infants increased both chronologically and by gestational age after birth. These basic data may help to further understand physiology of exosomes in preterm infants.
Keywords: exosome; low birth weight infant; neonate; preterm; serum.
© 2021 Japan Pediatric Society.