Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 expression on monocytes is associated with inflammation but not with infection in acute pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is usually a mild and self-limiting disease, but some patients develop a severe form that is associated with high mortality. In AP, local inflammation is followed first by the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and then by the compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome, which is defined by low human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression on monocytes, increased concentration of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and decreased monocyte function. Our aim was to measure the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-1 (a proposed marker of infection or inflammation) and HLA-DR on monocytes, and the serum concentrations of IL-6 (a proinflammatory cytokine) and IL-10 in patients with AP to determine whether these markers can identify patients at high risk of developing severe AP or infection.


METHODS
Fifty healthy volunteers, 18 patients with mild AP, and 11 patients with severe AP were included in this study. Samples were taken at admission and one and three days later. TREM-1 and HLA-DR expression was evaluated by flow cytometry, and soluble TREM-1, IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
TREM-1 expression was higher in patients with AP than in healthy volunteers, but there was no difference between patients with mild and severe AP. TREM-1 expression was not associated with mortality or with the presence of infection. Soluble TREM-1 concentration in serum was higher in non-survivors than in survivors. HLA-DR expression was lower and IL-6 concentration higher in patients with severe AP and in infected patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased TREM-1 expression was associated with the presence of inflammation but not infection in AP. In patients with AP, low HLA-DR expression and high IL-6 concentration could predict severity and infection in samples taken shortly after admission.
Medical Research Unit on Immunochemistry, Specialties Hospital, National Medical Centre Siglo XXI, Mexican Institute for Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico. eduardoferat@prodigy.net.mx
Eduardo
E
Ferat-Osorio
Isabel
I
Wong-Baeza
Noemí
N
Esquivel-Callejas
Silvia
S
Figueroa-Figueroa
Andrés
A
Duarte-Rojo
Gilberto
G
Guzmán-Valdivia-Gómez
Heriberto
H
Rodea-Rosas
Rubén
R
Torres-González
Patricio
P
Sánchez-Fernández
Lourdes
L
Arriaga-Pizano
Constantino
C
López-Macías
Guillermo
G
Robles-Díaz
Armando
A
Isibasi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000073871:Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1
D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C408842:TREM1 protein, human; D000073871:Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1; D016753:Interleukin-10