Clinical studies support a role for trem-like transcript-1 during the progression of sepsis

Sepsis is a multi-factorial disease that kills an estimated 1,400 people a day worldwide. The Triggering Receptor Expressed in Myeloid (TREM) cells Like Transcript (TLT)-1 is a platelet receptor expressed on activated platelets. Translational studies of TLT-1 suggest that TLT-1 affects hemostatic and immunological parameters that lead to the formation of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Evaluation of mice suffering from endotoxic shock shows a dramatic increase of soluble TLT-1 (sTLT-1) in their blood. Accordingly, when we evaluated the blood of septic patients we find increased levels of sTLT-1 that correlate with the presence of DIC in humans. Based on current data we hypothesize that TLT-1 plays an important role in maintaining vascular integrity during sepsis; perhaps by modulation of both the immune and hemostatic systems, and that TLT-1 makes an attractive target not only for better understanding of sepsis, but also as a point of therapeutic intervention as well.