Transcriptome analysis of six tissues obtained post-mortem from sepsis patients.

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Pathology
• Immunology

Background:

• Septic shock involves a severe immune response to infection.
• Its effects on the transcriptome of various human tissues remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of septic shock on the transcriptome of distinct human tissues.
• To identify tissue-specific gene expression alterations and molecular pathways affected by sepsis.

Main Methods:

• RNA sequencing was performed on prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, heart, lung, kidney, and colon samples.
• Samples were obtained from seven individuals who died from sepsis and seven uninfected controls.

Main Results:

• Lungs and colon exhibited the most significant transcriptomic changes.
• Gene activation was prevalent, but strong inhibitory signals were also observed, especially in the lungs.
• Septic shock demonstrated high heterogeneity between individuals and within different tissues of the same patient.
• Distinct alterations in pathways like respiratory electron transport and metabolic functions were identified, highlighting tissue specificity.
• Significant signals of accelerated aging were detected in sepsis patients.

Conclusions:

• Septic shock induces complex, heterogeneous, and tissue-specific transcriptomic changes.
• Metabolic pathway alterations and accelerated aging are key features of sepsis-induced tissue damage.