title: The Human Host Defense Ribonucleases 1, 3 and 7 Are Elevated in Patients with Sepsis after Major Surgery--A Pilot Study.
abstract: Sepsis is the most common cause of death in intensive care units and associated with widespread activation of host innate immunity responses. Ribonucleases (RNases) are important components of the innate immune system, however the role of RNases in sepsis has not been investigated. We evaluated serum levels of RNase 1, 3 and 7 in 20 surgical sepsis patients (Sepsis), nine surgical patients (Surgery) and 10 healthy controls (Healthy). RNase 1 and 3 were elevated in Sepsis compared to Surgery (2.2- and 3.1-fold, respectively; both p < 0.0001) or compared to Healthy (3.0- and 15.5-fold, respectively; both p < 0.0001). RNase 1 showed a high predictive value for the development of more than two organ failures (AUC 0.82, p = 0.01). Patients with renal dysfunction revealed higher RNase 1 levels than without renal dysfunction (p = 0.03). RNase 1 and 3 were higher in respiratory failure than without respiratory failure (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.02, respectively). RNase 7 was not detected in Healthy patients and only in two patients of Surgery, however RNase 7 was detected in 10 of 20 Sepsis patients. RNase 7 was higher in renal or metabolic failure than without failure (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). In conclusion, RNase 1, 3 and 7 are secreted into serum under conditions with tissue injury, such as major surgery or sepsis. Thus, RNases might serve as laboratory parameters to diagnose and monitor organ failure in sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. lmartin@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. pkoczera@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koczera
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. nsimons@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. ezechendorf@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zechendorf
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. jhoeger@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoeger
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. gmarx@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital Aachen, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany. tschuerholz@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schuerholz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D043262:Ribonuclease P / Q000097:blood*; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D015415:Biomarkers; C112706:POP7 protein, human; D012260:Ribonucleases; D043262:Ribonuclease P; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein; C470000:Ribonuclease 7
keywords: host-defense protein; human RNases; sepsis