title: [Studies on the cell markers of endothelial function in sepsis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the phasic changes of the number of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and endothelial microparticles (EMP) during the process of sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients with sepsis were divided into mild group (<9), moderate group (9-15) and severe group (>15) according to the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) scores after onset, and each group was further divided into survivors and non-survivors.The level of CEC, EMP and pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined on 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 days after onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1)The level of EMP, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in the severe group were significantly higher than the mild group and moderate group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of CEC in the severe group was significantly lower than the mild group and moderate group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). (2)The levels of CEC, EMP in the non-survivor and the survivor group were significantly higher with sepsis increased significantly; and the levels of EMP, pro-inflammatory in the non-survivor group were significantly higher than those of the survivor group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but the levels of CEC, IL-4 and IL-10 in non-survivors were significantly lower than the survivors (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of CEC and EMP in patients with sepsis increased significantly. They can not only serve as an index to reflect the severity of sepsis, but also have a prognostic value in patients with sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Ruijin Hospital Surgery Intensive Care Unit, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: En-qiang
authors.initials: EQ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yao-qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Sheng-dao
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4