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2016
Journal Article
Titel
Pparg Expression in T Cells as a Prognostic Marker of Sepsis
Abstract
Translating murine data to the human situation, we proposed that the level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor g (PPARg) expression in T cells from septic patients correlates with clinical outcome. In this preliminary report, we analyzed PPARg mRNA expression in CD3+ T cells derived from blood of a very small number of septic patients (n = 18) on various days up to 2 weeks after the initial diagnosis. CD3+ T cell count was determined by flow cytometry. T cells from n = 11 healthy donors were included as controls. Maximal PPARg mRNA expression was observed on the day of sepsis diagnosis (day 0; 5,896 ± 1,523 copies PPARg mRNA/25 ng mRNA, *P < 0.05 vs. controls). In contrast, the number of CD3+ T cells was significantly decreased in septic patients compared with healthy controls (296 ± 31 vs. 1,803 ± 134 T cells/mL blood, ***P < 0.001). Setting two arbitrary limits: patients with a PPARg expression in T cells higher than 7,000 copies/25 ng mRNA, of whom five of six patients died during the ICU stay, and patients with a T cell count below 100 T cells/mL blood, of whom five of eight patients died, we identified a correlation between sepsis survival and low T cell number, paired with high T cell-specific PPARg expression. Among all 18 sepsis patients, four fulfilled the criteria for both arbitrary settings and all four of these patients subsequently died. We suggest that both high PPARg expression in T cells and low absolute T cell number in blood of septic patients may have the potential as a new prognostic marker for a poor sepsis outcome.