Circulating endothelial progenitor cells inversely associate with organ dysfunction in sepsis
Sushma K Cribbs1, Diane J Sutcliffe, William R Taylor
1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine, 49 Jesse Hill Jr Drive, SE FOB, Pulmonary, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. skomaku@emory.edu
Intensive Care Medicine
|February 15, 2012
Summary
Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are lower in sepsis patients. Higher EPC levels correlate with less organ dysfunction, suggesting their potential as a sepsis biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Vascular Biology
- Sepsis Research
Background:
- Endothelial dysfunction is a key factor in sepsis-related organ damage and mortality.
- Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a role in vascular repair in sepsis models.
- The utility of EPCs as a biomarker for organ dysfunction in sepsis remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between circulating endothelial progenitor cell numbers and outcomes in sepsis patients.
- To test the hypothesis that higher circulating EPC levels correlate with improved sepsis outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, observational cohort study was conducted in adult intensive care units.
- Peripheral blood samples were collected from 86 sepsis patients, 37 ICU controls, and 51 healthy controls.
- Endothelial progenitor cells were quantified using a colony-forming unit (CFU) assay, and organ dysfunction was assessed by SOFA score.
Main Results:
- Sepsis patients exhibited significantly lower mean EPC colony counts compared to both ICU and healthy controls.
- No significant difference in EPC colony counts was observed between ICU and healthy controls.
- In sepsis patients, EPC CFU numbers showed an inverse correlation with SOFA scores, even after adjusting for mortality.
Conclusions:
- Elevated circulating endothelial progenitor cells are inversely associated with the severity of organ dysfunction in sepsis.
- These findings suggest that EPCs may serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing organ dysfunction in sepsis.
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