Abstract:Objective To investigate the role of S100β protein in brain injury of the neonatal rats and potential therapeutic effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on brain injury. Methods The 2-day-old SD rats were divided into the sham group, the hypoxia-ischemia brain damage group (HIBD group) and the rhEPO treatment group (rhEPO group). Rats in rhEPO group underwent intraperitoneal injection of rhEPO (5,000 U/kg). Serum S100β was measured at the 3rd d, 5th d and 7th d after birth as well as 6, 24, 3 and 7 days after treatment. Totally 25 newborns who were admitted in our hospital from February 2015 to October 2017 due to brain injury were involved in this study. Another 29 health newborns were collected as control group. Newborns with brain injury were given rhEPO subcutaneously. Results Blood levels of S100β at different time points post birth were similar among the three groups. Circulating concentration of S100β was enhanced in HIBD group when compared with sham group, which was further enhanced with treatment of rhEPO. Expression of S100β protein in the neonatal group with brain injury was statistically significant different at various time point before and after treatment. Baby in brain injury group experienced upregulated expression of S100β compared with healthy individuals. The S100β protein expression in the neonatal group of mild and severe brain injury showed a double peak change. Neonatal subjects with severe brain injury exerted higher concentration of S100β compared with neonatal subjects with mild brain injury. Conclusions Blood concentration of S100β protein shows double peak style in both rat brain injury and neonatal brain injury. rhEPO is potentially a therapeutic option in treatment of the neonatal brain injury.