title: The plasma levels of CST and BCKDK in patients with sepsis.
abstract: CST has been recently identified as a mediator of various beneficial effects in animal models of sepsis. At present, no data are available concerning the levels of CST in sepsis patients. In sepsis the plasma amino acid pattern is characterized by decreased branced chain amino acids (BCAAs). We investigated the levels of plasma CST or branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK) and their relationship to component traits in patients with sepsis.
  
  
  
  We studied 228 patients and divided them into two groups based on severity of infection. Blood samples were taken at study entry, and CST, BCKDK were measured.
  
  
  
  CST and BCKDK levels were significantly higher in patients with sepsis than in controls: the median plasma CST concentration was 103.1ng/ml (range, <83.13-189.7ng/ml) in patients with sepsis and 49.69ng/ml (range, <19.38-100.8ng/ml) in controls (p=0.0022); the median plasma BCKDK concentration was 801.7ng/ml in sepsis group and 745ng/ml in controls (p=0.0292). Additionally, there was correlation between the plasma concentrations of CST and BCKDK in sepsis patients (r2=0.6357, p<0.01).
  
  
  
  We conclude that the plasma levels of CST in sepsis patients were higher than in controls, and there is a relationship between CST and BCKDK in sepsis patients. Future experimental and clinical studies are needed to evaluate CST as a novel prognostic tool in sepsis patients and its potential therapeutic use in sepsis.
authors: Department of Cardiology, The fourth affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Cardiology, The fourth affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors: Gui-Zhi
authors: GZ
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Emergency, First affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors: Min-Ling
authors: ML
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of ICU, Second affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China.
authors: Yue
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Center for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China.
authors: Dian-Jun
authors: DJ
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Cardiology, The fourth affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. Electronic address: zhangbo_zobe@163.com.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Cardiology, The fourth affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. Electronic address: baixiuping@medmail.com.cn.
authors: Xiu-Ping
authors: XP
authors: Bai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C105172:CORT protein, human; D009479:Neuropeptides; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011494:Protein Kinases; C035627:(3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate dehydrogenase (lipoamide)) kinase
keywords: BCKDK; Cortistatin; Sepsis