The association of endothelial cell signaling, severity of illness, and organ dysfunction in sepsis.

Introduction: Previous reports suggest that endothelial activation is an important process in sepsis pathogenesis. We investigated the association between biomarkers of endothelial cell activation and sepsis severity, organ dysfunction sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and death.

Methods: This is a prospective, observational study including adult patients (age 18 years or older) presenting with clinical suspicion of infection to the emergency department (ED) of an urban, academic medical center between February 2005 and November 2008.

Skin biopsies demonstrate site-specific endothelial activation in mouse models of sepsis.

Background/aims: Skin biopsies allow for direct phenotyping of the endothelium in clinical settings.

Objectives: We hypothesize that in murine sepsis endothelial activation is manifested by changes in protein and mRNA expression in skin biopsies, and that such alterations differ from other organs.

Methods: In two mouse models of sepsis [endotoxemia and cecal ligation puncture (CLP)], we measured circulating levels of endothelial biomarkers, quantitated mRNA expression of activation markers and assayed for protein expression using immunohistochemistry.