Association between intracellular adenosine triphosphate content of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and mortality in sepsis...

This study aimed to link intracellular adenosine triphosphate content in CD4⁺ T lymphocytes (CD4⁺ iATP) with sepsis patient mortality, seeking a new predictive biomarker for outcomes and enhanced management.

61 sepsis patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit between October 2021 and November 2022 were enrolled. iATP levels were gauged using whole blood CD4⁺ T cells stimulated with mitogen PHA-L. Based on CD4⁺ iATP levels (<132.24 and ≥132.24 ng/mL), patients were categorized into two groups. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. To identify factors associated with mortality, both univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses were conducted.

Of the patients, 40 had high CD4⁺ iATP levels (≥132.24 ng/mL) and 21 had low levels (<132.24 ng/mL). In a 28-day follow-up, 21 (34.4%) patients perished. Adjusting for confounders like SOFA score, APACHE II score, lactic acid, and albumin, those with low CD4⁺ iATP had three- to fivefold higher mortality risk compared to high CD4⁺ iATP patients (61.9% vs. 20.0%; hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], Model 1: 4.515 [1.276-15.974], p = .019, Model 2: 3.512 [1.197-10.306], p = .022). CD4⁺ iATP correlated positively with white blood cell and neutrophil counts but not with lymphocytes, CD3, and CD4 counts.

Low CD4⁺ iATP levels were associated with a higher risk of mortality in sepsis patients. Measurement of CD4⁺ iATP may serve as a useful tool for identifying patients at a higher risk of mortality and could potentially provide a basis for clinical treatment. Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this association.