The significance of HIF gene expression levels and quantitative levels of cell immunity in the pathogenesis of progressive proliferative stages of retinopathy of prematurity

Balashova L.M., Kuznetsova Yu.D., Lesovoy S.V., Alvares M.A., Kantargy E.P., Bykovskaya S.N., Salmasi Dj.M.

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
Russian Children's Clinical Hospital – branch of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
International Scientific and Practical Center for Tissue Proliferation, Moscow, Russia

In the light of modern concepts of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a severe proliferative disease, it is necessary to study in-depth the state of immunity of premature infants. Cell immunity and hypoxia-inducing factor (HIF) gene expression levels were determined in the developing proliferative stages of ROP. Blood samples were analyzed in 38 eyes of 19 children with ROP and 6 children with unilateral congenital cataract. The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method was used to study HIF levels. The study of CD4+CD25highFOXP3+CD127low, CD3+, CD3+4+, CD3+8+, NK-cells CD3-CD16+CD56+ B-cells CD19+ was also performed in 208 eyes of 106 children with ROP. The age of the patients ranged from 1 month to 1 year and 2 months. As a result of statistical processing, a difference in the level of T-lymphocytes was revealed between the patients and the control group (p<0.05), which included full-term infants and premature infants with ROP.
At the same time, the lowest values of CD4+CD25highFOXP3+CD127low and CD3+ were detected in the initial progressive stages I, II and final stages V of ROP, The expression of the HIF gene in the blood from the congenital cataracts was normal; with ROP values significantly higher (p<0.01). Deviations in the links of metabolic processes were found in these patients.