title: Gene expression profiling of apoptosis regulators in patients with sepsis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sepsis is associated with a dysregulation of apoptosis in immune cells, which has been implicated in both immunosuppression and multiple organ failure. We describe the expression profiles of genes encoding key regulators of apoptosis in highly purified monocytes, granulocytes and CD4+ T lymphocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with sepsis were recruited from the intensive care unit and were compared with 24 healthy controls. RNA was isolated from highly purified monocyte, granulocyte and CD4+ T-lymphocyte populations. Gene expression profiles were determined using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification for the simultaneous detection of 30 pro- and anti-apoptotic target genes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to healthy controls, patients with sepsis showed increased transcription of both pro- and anti-apoptotic genes in peripheral blood leukocytes. Specific monocyte, granulocyte and CD4+ T-lymphocyte mRNA profiles were identified. Anti-apoptotic profiles were found in monocytes and granulocytes, while CD4+ T lymphocytes displayed a foremost pro-apoptotic mRNA profile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that in patients with sepsis, the alterations in apoptosis of circulating leukocytes occur in a cell-specific manner.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, and Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.j.hoogerwerf@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Jacobien J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hoogerwerf
authors.forename: Marieke A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Zoelen
authors.forename: W Joost
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wiersinga
authors.forename: Cornelis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van 't Veer
authors.forename: Alex F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: de Vos
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: Marcus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Berend
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hooibrink
authors.forename: Evert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Jonge
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Poll
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger