Increased circulating endothelial progenitor cells in septic patients: correlation with survival
Neysan Rafat1, Christine Hanusch, Paul T Brinkkoetter
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Critical Care Medicine
|May 25, 2007
Summary
Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) are elevated in sepsis patients and correlate with survival. Measuring cEPCs may help predict clinical outcomes in sepsis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Sepsis causes endothelial damage, necessitating endothelial repair mechanisms.
- Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) are crucial for endothelial repair.
- Mobilization of cEPCs in sepsis may influence patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mobilization of cEPCs in septic patients.
- To determine if cEPC levels correlate with sepsis severity and clinical outcomes.
- To explore the relationship between cEPCs and key growth factors in sepsis.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of intensive care unit patients with and without sepsis, and healthy controls.
- Flow cytometry used to quantify cEPCs (CD133+, CD34+, VEGFR-2+).
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured serum levels of VEGF, GM-CSF, and EPO; sepsis severity assessed by APACHE II score.
Main Results:
- Septic patients exhibited significantly higher cEPC numbers than nonseptic patients and healthy controls.
- Lower cEPC counts were observed in non-survivors compared to survivors (p < .0001).
- Serum VEGF, GM-CSF, and EPO levels were elevated in sepsis and correlated with cEPC numbers.
Conclusions:
- cEPC enumeration in peripheral blood is a potential biomarker for assessing clinical outcomes in sepsis.
- Increased cEPC mobilization in sepsis is linked to survival.
- Growth factor levels correlate with cEPC numbers, suggesting a coordinated response in sepsis.
