Profiling the expression of circulating acute-phase proteins, cytokines, and checkpoint proteins in patients with severe trauma: A pilot study

Shao Chun Wu, Cheng Shyuan Rau, Pao Jen Kuo, Fu Yuan Shih, Hui Ping Lin, Yi Chan Wu, Ting Min Hsieh, Hang Tsung Liu, Ching Hua Hsieh*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Severe trauma may lead to the systemic release of inflammatory mediators into the circulation with profound acute-phase responses; however, the understanding of the expression of these mediators remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the altera-tions in the expression of circulating acute-phase proteins, cytokines, and checkpoint proteins in patients with severe trauma injuries. Patients and Methods: The study population included trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with an injury severity score equal to or greater than 16 and who had used a ventilator for 48 hours. A total of 12 female and 28 male patients were recruited for the study; six patients died and 34 survived. Blood samples collected at acute stages were compared with those drawn at the subacute stage, the time when the patients were discharged from the ICU, or before the discharge of the patients from the hospital. Results: The study identified that the expression of acute-phase proteins, such as alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and C-reactive protein, and cytokines, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, was elevated in the circulation after severe trauma. In contrast, the levels of acute-phase proteins, such as alpha-2-macroglobulin, serum amyloid P, and von Willebrand factor, and cytokines, including interleukin-4 and interferon gamma-induced protein 10, were reduced. However, there were no significant differences in the expression of checkpoint proteins in the circulation. Conclusion: The dysregulated proteins identified in this study may serve as potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers for treating patients with severe trauma. However, the related biological functions of these dysregulated factors require further investigation to validate their functions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3739-3753
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Inflammation Research
Volume14
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Wu et al.

Keywords

  • Biomarkers
  • Circulation
  • Critical illness
  • Inflammatory reaction
  • Severe trauma

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Profiling the expression of circulating acute-phase proteins, cytokines, and checkpoint proteins in patients with severe trauma: A pilot study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this