Endocan is a stable circulating molecule in ICU patients

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Clinical Chemistry
• Proteomics

Background:

• Endocan is a lung endothelial cell-secreted proteoglycan with significant physiological roles.
• It serves as a potential biomarker for pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
• Proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-α induce endocan secretion, but proteolytic degradation can cause preanalytical variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the stability of endocan in different blood collection and storage conditions.
• To assess potential interferences affecting endocan measurement accuracy.
• To validate endocan as a reliable biomarker in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated endocan stability in serum, plasma, and whole blood using various anticoagulants and protease inhibitors.
• Performed recovery tests to assess dilution effects.
• Assessed stability under different storage conditions (room temperature, freeze-thaw cycles) and interference from sample quality (hemolysis, icterus, turbidity).

Main Results:

• EDTA tubes showed minimal interference in blood collection.
• No significant dilution effect was observed in recovery tests.
• Patient plasma endocan remained stable at room temperature for up to 72 hours and after three freeze-thaw cycles.
• Hemolytic, icteric, or turbid samples did not interfere with endocan measurement.

Conclusions:

• Endocan measurements in intensive care unit (ICU) patients are accurate and reliable.
• The stability of endocan in collected samples supports its utility as a biomarker.
• Low endocan levels observed in ICU patients who develop ARDS are likely to be trustworthy.