title: Lymphocyte apoptosis, caspase activation and inflammatory response in septic shock.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined lymphocyte apoptosis, activity of caspases-1, -3, -8 and -9 and the relationship between those two events and inflammation response in septic shock.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained within 24 h after diagnosis of septic shock from 16 patients to measure apoptosis, caspases-3, -8, -9 expression, changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and expression of Fas/FasL system of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Moreover, serum levels of caspase-1 and blood concentrations of IL-6, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PBMCs from patients with septic shock compared to control individuals exhibited a greatly increased frequency of apoptosis (39.10 +/- 7.33% vs 4.19 +/- 1.13%; p < 0.001), an over expression of caspases-3, -8, and -9 (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.001 for caspases-3, -8 and -9, respectively) as well as of Fas/FasL system (p < 0.05) and significant changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Blood levels of caspase-1 (101.5 +/- 18.2 pg/ml vs 9.09 +/- 2.7 pg/ml, p < 0.001) and of IL-6, IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18 were significantly higher in septic patients vs control (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05, p < 0.05 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, a correlation linking IL-6 blood level with both the apoptotic rate (r(2) = 0.75; p = 0.001) and caspase-9 expression (r(2) = 0.92; p = 0.0001) of PBMCs was observed.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Famularo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tellan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marandola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonucci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Signore
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcellini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moretti
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C491901:FAS protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D020169:Caspases