Circulating miR-147b as a diagnostic marker for patients with bacterial sepsis and septic shock

Ngo Tat Trung1,2,3, Tran Thi Lien2, Vu Viet Sang2,4

  • 1Centre for Genetics Consultation and Cancer Screening, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Plos One
|December 16, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) show promise for diagnosing sepsis. miR-147b, alone or with procalcitonin (PCT), can help identify bacterial sepsis and predict septic shock, improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Biomarker discovery
  • Molecular diagnostics
  • Infectious disease research

Background:

  • Early sepsis diagnosis and treatment are crucial for patient outcomes.
  • Plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging biomarkers for infection diagnosis and management.
  • This study investigates the diagnostic and prognostic potential of specific miRNAs in sepsis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To validate the expression of four selected miRNAs (miR-146-3p, miR-147b, miR-155, miR-223) in sepsis patients.
  • To assess the diagnostic accuracy of plasma miRNAs for differentiating bacterial sepsis and septic shock.
  • To evaluate the combined diagnostic potential of miRNAs and procalcitonin (PCT) in sepsis.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to measure plasma miRNA expression.
  • The study included patients with bacterial sepsis (n=78), septic shock (n=52), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF; n=69), and healthy controls (n=82).

Main Results:

  • Expression of studied miRNAs was significantly elevated in bacterial sepsis and septic shock patients.
  • Plasma miR-147b differentiated bacterial sepsis from non-sepsis (AUC=0.77) and septic shock (AUC=0.8).
  • The combination of plasma miR-147b and PCT predicted septic shock with high accuracy (AUC=0.86).

Conclusions:

  • Plasma miR-147b shows potential as an independent biomarker for sepsis diagnosis.
  • Combining miR-147b with PCT can aid in the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis and septic shock.
  • These findings support the use of miRNAs in sepsis patient stratification and management.