Abstract
Background:
We examined lymphocyte apoptosis, activity of caspases-1, -3, -8 and -9 and the relationship between those two events and inflammation response in septic shock.
Materials and Methods:
Blood samples were obtained within 24 h after diagnosis of septic shock from 16 patients to measure apoptosis, caspases-3, -8, -9 expression, changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and expression of Fas/FasL system of peripheral blood monuclear cells (PBMCs). Moreover, serum levels of caspase-1 and blood concentrations of IL-6, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 were assessed.
Results:
PBMCs from patients with septic shock compared to control individuals exhibited a greatly increased frequency of apoptosis (39.10 ± 7.33% vs 4.19 ± 1.13%; p < 0.001), an over expression of caspases-3, -8, and -9 (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.001 for caspases-3, -8 and -9, respectively) as well as of Fas/FasL system (p < 0.05) and significant changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Blood levels of caspase-1 (101.5 ± 18.2 pg/ml vs 9.09 ± 2.7 pg/ml, p < 0.001) and of IL-6, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 were significantly higher in septic patients vs control (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, a correlation linking IL-6 blood level with both the apoptotic rate (r2 = 0.75; p = 0.001) and caspase-9 expression (r2 = 0.92; p = 0.0001) of PBMCs was observed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Delogu, G., Famularo, G., Tellan, G. et al. Lymphocyte Apoptosis, Caspase Activation and Inflammatory Response in Septic Shock. Infection 36, 485–487 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-008-7070-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-008-7070-y