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Extracellular heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) levels in children with septic shock
D S Wheeler1, P Lahni, K Odoms
1Division of Critical Care Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-3039, USA. derek.wheeler@cchmc.org
Insights
Extracellular heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) levels were significantly elevated in children with septic shock. This finding suggests Hsp60 may play a role in pediatric sepsis pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Extracellular heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) is implicated in modulating innate immune responses.
- Understanding biomarkers for pediatric sepsis is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma extracellular Hsp60 levels in children diagnosed with septic shock.
- To compare Hsp60 levels between septic shock patients, critically ill non-septic children, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Plasma samples were collected from three groups: children with septic shock (n=63), critically ill children without septic shock (n=10), and healthy controls (n=24).
- Extracellular Hsp60 concentrations were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Statistical analysis employed the Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA to determine significant differences between groups.
Main Results:
- Children with septic shock exhibited significantly higher plasma Hsp60 levels (median, 16.7 ng/mL) compared to both critically ill children without septic shock (median, 0 ng/mL) and healthy controls (median, 0 ng/mL).
- The observed differences between the septic shock group and the other two groups were statistically significant (p <0.001).
Conclusions:
- Plasma extracellular Hsp60 levels are markedly elevated in pediatric patients experiencing septic shock.
- Elevated extracellular Hsp60 may serve as a potential biomarker and contribute to the pathogenesis of sepsis in children.
Objective And Design:
Recent data suggest that extracellular Hsp60 modulates the host innate immune response. We analyzed plasma Hsp60 levels in children admitted to a level III tertiary care PICU with septic shock.
Materials And Subjects:
Blood samples were obtained from children meeting criteria for septic shock (n = 63), critically ill children without septic shock (n = 10), and healthy controls (n = 24).
Treatment:
Not applicable.
Methods:
Hsp60 levels were measured in the plasma using a commercially available ELISA. Differences between groups were analyzed with a Kruskal-Wallis one way ANOVA due to the non-parametric nature of the data. A p value < or = 0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
Extracellular Hsp60 levels were significantly higher in children with septic shock (median, 16.7 ng/mL) compared to both critically ill children without septic shock (median, 0 ng/mL) and healthy controls (median, 0 ng/mL, p <0.001).
Conclusions:
Extracellular Hsp60 levels are significantly elevated in children with septic shock compared with both healthy controls and critically ill children without sepsis. Extracellular Hsp60 may play a role in the pathogenesis of sepsis in children.
