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Published on: April 25, 2015
Gene expression profiles differentiate between sterile SIRS and early sepsis
Steven B Johnson1, Matthew Lissauer, Grant V Bochicchio
1R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. sbjohnson@umm.edu
Annals of Surgery
|April 7, 2007
Summary
Sepsis exhibits a distinct gene expression profile compared to uninfected inflammation, detectable before clinical symptoms emerge. This discovery aids in early sepsis identification in critically ill patients.
Area of Science:
- Critical care medicine
- Molecular biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is common in critically ill patients, presenting similarly despite varied causes.
- Diverse SIRS etiologies can lead to distinct genetic responses, even with similar clinical signs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gene expression differences between sepsis and uninfected SIRS before clinical sepsis manifestation.
- To identify unique genetic signatures associated with the early stages of sepsis.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal gene expression analysis of whole blood from critically ill SIRS patients using microarrays.
- Comparison of gene expression profiles between patients who developed sepsis and those who remained uninfected.
- Statistical analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (>1.2 fold change, statistical significance) and pathway annotation.
Main Results:
- Significant differential gene expression was observed up to 48 hours before clinical sepsis.
- 459 unique genes showed altered expression, with 85.8% upregulated.
- These genes were associated with innate immunity, cytokine signaling, T-cell differentiation, and protein synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Sepsis possesses a unique gene expression profile distinct from uninfected inflammation.
- This unique genetic signature is detectable prior to the clinical onset of sepsis, offering potential for early diagnosis.
