The Circulating CDC42 Expression in Sepsis: Relation to Disease Susceptibility, Inflammation, Multiple Organ...

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Immunology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) plays a role in immune cell function, influencing T-cell differentiation and macrophage polarization.
• CDC42 is implicated in modulating inflammatory responses and the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between blood CDC42 expression and the risk of developing sepsis.
• To explore the relationship between CDC42 levels and the severity of multi-organ dysfunctions in sepsis patients.
• To assess CDC42 as a predictor of mortality in sepsis.

Main Methods:

• Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 145 sepsis patients and 50 healthy controls.
• CDC42 gene expression was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
• Statistical analyses included receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and correlation assessments.

Main Results:

• Sepsis patients exhibited significantly lower CDC42 expression compared to healthy controls (P<0.001).
• Reduced CDC42 levels were correlated with elevated inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-17A) and higher SOFA scores, indicating greater organ dysfunction.
• Lower CDC42 expression was associated with increased 28-day mortality in sepsis patients, with ROC analysis showing predictive value for both sepsis risk and mortality.

Conclusions:

• Circulating CDC42 levels serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in sepsis.
• Decreased CDC42 expression reflects the extent of multi-organ dysfunction and predicts a higher risk of mortality in sepsis.
• CDC42 warrants further investigation as a clinical tool for sepsis management and outcome prediction.