[The prognostic role of the programmed death-1 expression on T lymphocytes in septic patients]

C Xu1, L Li1, J H Zhen1

  • 1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou 310013, China.

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi
|September 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) expression on T cells is a significant predictor of mortality in sepsis patients. Higher PD-1 levels on T lymphocytes indicate a greater risk of 28-day death, suggesting its prognostic value.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Sepsis Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.
  • T lymphocytes play a crucial role in the immune response during sepsis.
  • Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is an immune checkpoint receptor expressed on T cells, modulating immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prognostic significance of programmed death-1 (PD-1) expression on T lymphocytes in patients with sepsis.
  • To determine if PD-1 expression levels can predict 28-day mortality in septic patients.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 64 septic patients was studied across six hospitals.
  • Flow cytometry was used to measure PD-1 expression on T cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+).
  • Logistic regression and ROC curve analysis were employed to assess risk factors and predictive value for mortality.

Main Results:

  • Septic patients who died within 28 days exhibited significantly higher PD-1 expression on T cells compared to survivors (P<0.05).
  • PD-1 expression on CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells were identified as independent risk factors for 28-day mortality.
  • PD-1+ T cell percentages demonstrated significant area under the curve (AUC) values, indicating strong predictive capabilities for mortality.

Conclusions:

  • T cell PD-1 expression serves as an independent risk factor for predicting 28-day mortality in sepsis.
  • Combining the proportions of PD-1+ T cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) may enhance the predictive accuracy for sepsis-related death.