RNA profiles in extracellular vesicles from severe sepsis patients reveal pathogen-specific immune signatures in meningococcal versus pneumococcal infections

ABSTRACT: This study is the first to investigate and compare RNA profiles in plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from patients with severe sepsis caused by Neisseria meningitidis and patients with systemic infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. In some cases, invasive pneumococcal disease can resemble meningococcal infections at the time of hospital admission. Blood samples from a 1980s epidemic in Norway were used to isolate EVs and characterize their RNA content by microarray technology. The results revealed both shared and distinct RNA characteristics between the two patient groups, with 1,798 shared transcripts. Key findings included significant changes in mRNA transcripts associated with the S100 family signaling pathway and the AQP9 gene across all patient groups. RNA types varied across patient groups based on filtering criteria. The levels of RNA subtypes such as mRNA, piRNA, lncRNA, lincRNA, tRNA, miRNA, YRNA, and snoRNA differed among the groups. Notably, the meningococcal septic shock group exhibited the highest transcript levels (5,927), significantly surpassing both the pneumococcal disease group (2,341) and the meningococcal meningitis group (390). Specific piRNA transcripts were identified in both meningococcal and pneumococcal patient groups, suggesting potential roles in immune modulation. Additionally, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exhibited expression patterns that may indicate immunosuppression, particularly in systemic pneumococcal disease. The study also compared plasma EV-RNA profiles from patients with meningococcal sepsis at hospital admission to cellular RNA profiles from post-mortem large organ tissue samples of patients with lethal Neisseria meningitidis septic shock, revealing a striking similarity in RNA profiles. This highlights the role of EVs in modulating immune responses during severe sepsis and indeed pave the way for extracellular vesicles´ role in communication during sepsis. The differences and similarities in RNA profiles suggest that EVs may reflect different on going systemic pathophysiological states, providing new insights for personalized treatment strategies for sepsis in the future.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE292448 | GEO | 2026/07/24

REPOSITORIES: GEO