Increased levels of soluble ST2 protein and IgG1 production in patients with sepsis and trauma.
OBJECTIVE
T1/ST2, a member of the interleukin (IL)-1 receptor superfamily, is predominantly expressed on type-2 T helper (Th2) cells but not Th1 cells, and plays a role in cell proliferation and Th2 immune response. The relation of soluble ST2, Th1-Th2 cytokine profile, and immunoglobulin (Ig) production in sepsis and trauma patients is not well known.


METHODS
Case-control study at a university hospital intensive care unit.


METHODS
Fifteen patients recruited within 24-48 h of diagnosis of sepsis, 13 trauma patients recruited within 24 h after admission to the ICU, 11 patients who underwent abdominal surgery, and 15 healthy volunteers served as control.


RESULTS
ELISA was utilized to detect serum soluble ST2, IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-10, and Ig production. Serum levels of soluble ST2 were significantly increased in septic patients (8420+/-2169 pg/ml) as compared with trauma (2936+/-826 pg/ml), abdominal surgery (1423+/-373 pg/ml), and healthy controls (316+/-72 pg/ml; p<0.001, respectively). These results were accompanied by an increase of IgG1 and IgG2 production, and decrease of IL-2 and IFN-gamma synthesis in septic patients. IL-10 was significantly increased in both septic and trauma patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that soluble ST2, a marker for Th2 cytokine producing cells, is increased in sepsis and trauma patients, and they provide further evidence for a shift from Th1- to Th2-biased cells.
Brunner
Markus
M
Department of Surgery, University of Vienna, AKH, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Krenn
Claus
C
Roth
Georg
G
Moser
Bernhard
B
Dworschak
Martin
M
Jensen-Jarolim
Erika
E
Spittler
Andreas
A
Sautner
Thomas
T
Bonaros
Nico
N
Wolner
Ernst
E
Boltz-Nitulescu
George
G
Ankersmit
Hendrik Jan
HJ
D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000097:blood; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
C079241:IL1RL1 protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D000072179:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma