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Biomarkers in sepsis and other severe infections

Author

  • Helena Janols

Summary, in English

Infectious diseases constitute a major global health problem. The presenting clinical picture results from a mixture of direct toxic actions by the microbiological agent and of the immune response mounted by the host. There is often a rapid onset, which may constitute a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, whereas in other cases an extensive investigation over a long time period can fail to identify a causal microbial agent.



The aim with this thesis was to study the cellular immune response with phenotypical assays, in patients with severe infections with focus on sepsis. We assessed if our findings could serve as biomarkers and provide valuable diagnostic and possible also therapeutic information.



In the first part (paper I) we examined surface markers on white blood cells from patients with severe infections. In some instances our analysis could differentiate between infections of bacterial and viral origin. In the second part (paper II-IV) we examined the incidence and nature of the immune alterations found in patients with sepsis and septic shock. We identified a protein (Wnt5a) that inhibited differentiation of monocytes to monocyte-derived myeloid dendritic cells (Mo-mDC), which may play a role in the DC depletion often seen in sepsis. Also, as indicated by cell surface phenotype, a large inter-individual variation of immune activation and immunosuppression was detected in patients with sepsis, with a dominance of immunosuppression in patients with septic shock. Finally, different types of immature myeloid immunosuppressive cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were found in patients with sepsis; Mo-MDSCs were preferentially expanded in patients with gram-negative sepsis, whereas granulocytic MDSCs (PMN-MDSCs) accumulated in patients with gram-positive sepsis.



We conclude that the immune response during severe infections shows large inter-individual variations and biomarker guided therapy could be useful in individualised treatment.

Department/s

  • Infectious Diseases Research Unit

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Publication/Series

Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series

Volume

2014:50

Document type

Dissertation

Publisher

Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University

Topic

  • Clinical Medicine

Keywords

  • immunosuppression
  • myeloid-derived suppressor cells
  • T cells
  • dendritic cells
  • monocytes
  • sepsis
  • Biomarkers

Status

Published

Research group

  • Infectious Diseases Research Unit

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1652-8220
  • ISBN: 978-91-87651-76-2

Defence date

16 May 2014

Defence time

13:00

Defence place

The main lecture hall, Pathology Building, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö

Opponent

  • Tomas Vikerfors