321 - Total Tau Protein Levels are Elevated in the Cord Blood of Premature Infants

Kalsang Dolma, University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital, Mobile, AL, United States; Saminathan Anbalagan, University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital, Mobile, AL, United States; Althea deWeever, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States; Linn Ayers, University Of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, United States; Benjamin Cockrell, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States; Allison J.. Bauman, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States; Amy R. Nelson, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, United States; Manimaran Ramani, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States; Troy Stevens, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, United States

Background: The tau protein, a microtubule-associated protein, is expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. Recent studies have suggested that tau protein levels in cord blood may be a potential biomarker for neonatal brain injury. However, the baseline tau protein levels in cord blood throughout gestational development remain unclear.

Objective: This study aims to comprehensively characterize total tau protein levels in cord blood of infants born between 22 and 42 weeks of gestation, using the MesoScale Discovery immunoassay. The goal is to establish normative benchmarks for tau protein levels and examine tau protein variations in cord blood across the developmental spectrum of gestational ages.

Design/Methods: Cord blood samples were collected from infants born at the University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital. Infants were categorized into four groups: 22 -28 weeks (extremely preterm), 29 - 32 weeks (very preterm), 33 - 36 weeks (late preterm), and 37 - 42 weeks (term) of gestational age (GA). Baseline demographic data were collected from electronic records. Total tau protein levels (non-specific to isoform) were measured using a Meso-Scale Discovery assay.

Results: Cord blood samples were collected from 157 infants (37 from the 22-28 weeks gestational age group and 40 from the other gestational age groups). Tau protein was present in all samples, with concentrations averaging 192.7 ± 9.5 pg/ml, ~20-fold higher than healthy adult plasma samples. Tau levels in cord blood decreased with increasing gestational age. Tau levels were significantly higher in infants at 22-28 weeks (255.9 ± 18.2 pg/ml) and 29-32 weeks (230.2 + 24.7 pg/ml) compared to those at 33-36 weeks (168 + 10 pg/ml) and 37- 42 weeks (120.9 + 11.7 pg/l). There were no differences in tau levels based on gender or mode of delivery.

Conclusion(s): This study revealed the presence of extremely high tau protein levels in cord blood of premature infants, when compared across gestational ages and, in particular, when compared to adult values. These findings suggest an important role for tau in development. Further research into the role of tau protein at various stages of fetal development is crucial to deepen our understanding of its implications and potential as a biomarker for brain injury.

Cord blood Total Tau Levels Based on Gestational age
Cord Blood Total Tau Levels based on Gestational age.pdf