Nuclear factor-kappaB activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in children with sepsis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the activation of nuclear factor-[kappa]B in peripheral blood CD14+ monocyte/macrophages and CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells in children with sepsis.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-six children with sepsis (nine females and 17 males, aged between 10 days and 15 yrs; median, 4.3 yrs) on admission to our hospital between August 1999 and November 2005.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
The percentages of peripheral blood CD14+ monocyte/macrophages and CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells exhibiting nuclear factor-[kappa]B activity were determined by flow cytometry. In addition, relationships among the degree to which nuclear factor-[kappa]B was activated, serum levels of cytokines (interferon-[gamma], tumor necrosis factor-[alpha], interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10), and clinical variables were analyzed. The percentage of cells exhibiting nuclear factor-[kappa]B activity was increased among CD14+, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells in the sepsis group and was significantly higher among CD14+, CD3+, and CD4+ cells of the patients with severe sepsis (n = 9) than those of patients with nonsevere sepsis (n = 17). The percentage of cells exhibiting nuclear factor-[kappa]B activity was significantly higher among CD14+ cells than CD3+ cells in the patients with severe sepsis. In addition, this percentage was significantly higher among CD14+ cells than CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells in septic patients who had positive blood cultures (n = 16). Serum interleukin-6 levels were correlated with the percentages of CD14+, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells exhibiting nuclear factor-[kappa]B activity, and serum IL-10 levels were correlated with the percentages of CD14+, CD3+, and CD4+ cells exhibiting nuclear factor-[kappa]B activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Nuclear factor-[kappa]B in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was activated in children with sepsis and was related the severity of sepsis.
Hotta
Noriko
N
Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
Ichiyama
Takashi
T
Shiraishi
Masahiro
M
Takekawa
Tsuyoshi
T
Matsubara
Tomoyo
T
Furukawa
Susumu
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*
D016328:NF-kappa B