Project description:To stratify hydrocortisone application in septic shock, we investigated an immune sub-study of the CORTICUS trial (Sprung et.al 2008, NEJM) employing machine learning to a panel of 120 parameters of 84 patients (n=24 non-survived, n=60 survived, 28 days) with special emphasis on potentially disadvantageous corticosteroids effects in the context of sepsis including clinical parameters, organ failure scores, lymphocyte counts and plasma protein concentrations of cytokines. We identified the ratio of IFNγ/IL10 in serum before randomization to serve as a valid biomarker for treatment stratification. This was validated with cytokine serum levels of patients (n=49) from the SISPCT study (Bloos et.al 2016, JAMA) and the early arm (n=20) of a hydrocortisone cross-over study (Keh et.al. 2003, Am J Respir Crit Care Med). Integrating these three studies, we yielded an odds ratio of 2.1 and a 95% confidence interval of 0.99-4.52 (P=0.03).In vitro assays revealed IFNγ/Il10 to reflect the burden or severity of systemic infection. Severity was evidencedbyserum levels of these cy-tokines in the patients with septic shock we observed, and also in patients with less severe sepsis. Elucidating the molecular regulation of leukocytes during treatment and placebo by a transcriptomics analysis pointed to induced recovery of immune cell function due to hydro-cortisone treatment, particularly in the predicted hydrocortisone responders. IFNγ/IL10 is a molecular marker with high potential for support of hydrocortisone therapy decision. IFNγ/IL10 is reasonable for this as it reflects the burden and recovery of the immune system which seems to be indicative for corticosteroids treatment of septic shock.
Project description:The aim of the experiment was to assign patients enrolled in the VANISH randomised trial to sepsis response signature (SRS) endotypes based on a previously published gene expression signature, in order to test for differential responses to treatment. VANISH was a double-blind randomised clinical trial in septic shock, with patients randomised to receive norepinephrine or vasopressin followed by hydrocortisone or placebo. We collected blood samples upon enrolment, extracted RNA and performed transcriptomic profiling using microarrays, allocated patients to SRS1 or SRS2 using a linear model (Davenport 2016), and tested for an association between sepsis endotype and response to either norepinephrine or vasopressin, or to corticosteroids. There was a significant interaction between treatment with hydrocortisone or placebo, and SRS endotype (p=0·02)
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.
Project description:Rationale: Despite shortening vasopressor use in shock, hydrocortisone administration remains controversial, with potential harm on the immune system. Few studies assessed hydrocortisone impact on the transcriptional response in shock, and we are lacking data in burns. Objectives: To assess the hydrocortisone-induced transcriptional modulation in severe burn shock, particularly on the immune response. Methods: We collected whole blood samples (n= 117) during a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of hydrocortisone administration on burn shock. Using whole genome microarrays, we first compared burn patients from the placebo group (n=15) to healthy volunteers (n=13) to describe the transcriptional modulation induced by burn shock over the first week. Then we compared burn patients randomized for either hydrocortisone administration (n=15) or placebo (n=15) to assess hydrocortisone-induced modulation. Measurements and Main Results: Study groups were similar in terms of severity and major outcomes, but shock duration (significantly reduced in the hydrocortisone group). Many genes (n=2250) were differentially expressed between burn patients and healthy volunteers, with 85% of them exhibiting a profound and persistent modulation over seven days. Interestingly, we showed that hydrocortisone enhanced the shock-associated repression of adaptive, but also innate immunity. Conclusions: We found that the initial host response to burn shock encompasses a wide and persistent modulation of gene expression, with profound modulation of pathways associated with metabolism and immunity. Importantly, hydrocortisone administration may worsen the immunosuppression associated with severe injury. These data should be taken into account in the risk ratio of hydrocortisone administration in patients with inflammatory shock.
Project description:Gene methylation profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells comparing HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs cells with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)- and HPV E6/E7-transfected MSCs. hTERT may increase gene methylation in MSCs. Goal was to determine the effects of different transfected genes on global gene methylation in MSCs.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression. Two-condition experiment, Normoxic MSCs vs. Hypoxic MSCs.
Project description:In an ongoing translational research program involving microarray-based expression profiles in pediatric septic shock, we have now conducted longitudinal studies focused on the temporal expression profiles of canonical signaling pathways and gene networks. Genome-level expression profiles were generated from whole blood-derived RNA samples of children with septic shock (n = 30 individual patients) corresponding to days 1 and 3 of admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. Based on sequential statistical and expression filters, day 1 and day 3 of septic shock were characterized by differential regulation of 2,142 and 2,504 gene probes, respectively, relative to normal control patients. Venn analysis demonstrated 239 unique genes in the day 1 data set, 598 unique genes in the day 3 data set, and 1,906 genes common to both data sets. Analyses targeted toward derivation of biological function from these data sets demonstrated time-dependent, differential regulation of genes involved in multiple canonical signaling pathways and gene networks primarily related to immunity and inflammation. Notably, multiple and distinct gene networks involving T cell- and MHC antigen-related biological processes were persistently downregulated from day 1 to day 3. Further analyses demonstrated large scale and persistent downregulation of genes corresponding to functional annotations related to zinc homeostasis. These data represent the largest reported cohort of patients with septic shock, which has undergone longitudinal genome-level expression profiling. The data further advance our genome-level understanding of pediatric septic shock and support novel hypotheses that can be readily tested at both the experimental and translational levels. Experiment Overall Design: To define the longitudinal, genome-level expression profile of children with septic shock.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.