Plasma gelsolin levels are associated with diabetes, sex, race, and poverty.

Background: The growing epidemic of the inflammation-related metabolic disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, presents a challenge to improve our understanding of potential mechanisms or biomarkers to prevent or better control this age-associated disease. A gelsolin isoform is secreted into the plasma as part of the extracellular actin scavenger system which serves a protective role by digesting and removing actin filaments released from damaged cells. Recent data indicate a role for decreased plasma gelsolin (pGSN) levels as a biomarker of inflammatory conditions.

Adjunctive Recombinant Human Plasma Gelsolin for Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia.

Background: Excessive inflammation contributes to the morbidity and mortality of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Recombinant human plasma gelsolin (rhu-pGSN) improves disease outcomes in diverse experimental models of infectious and noninfectious inflammation.

Methods: In a blinded, randomized study, 61 subjects with documented COVID-19 pneumonia having a World Health Organization (WHO) Severity Score of 4 to 6 and evidence of a hyperinflammatory state were treated with standard care and either adjunctive rhu-pGSN 12 mg/kg or an equal volume of saline placebo given intravenously at entry, 12 hours, and 36 hours.

Association of plasma gelsolin with frailty phenotype and mortality among octogenarian community-dwelling men: a cohort study.

Background: Biomarkers are needed for frailty, a common phenotype often associated with muscle loss in older people. Plasma gelsolin (pGSN) is a protein largely synthesized and secreted by skeletal muscle.

Aims: To investigate whether pGSN could be a biomarker of the frailty phenotype and predict mortality.

Plasma gelsolin modulates the production and fate of IL-1β-containing microparticles following high-pressure exposure and decompression.

Plasma gelsolin (pGSN) levels fall in association with diverse inflammatory conditions. We hypothesized that pGSN would decrease due to the stresses imposed by high pressure and subsequent decompression, and repletion would ameliorate injuries in a murine decompression sickness (DCS) model. Research subjects were found to exhibit a modest decrease in pGSN level while at high pressure and a profound decrease after decompression.

An immune-based biomarker signature is associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Immune and inflammatory responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contribute to disease severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the utility of specific immune-based biomarkers to predict clinical outcome remains elusive. Here, we analyzed levels of 66 soluble biomarkers in 175 Italian patients with COVID-19 ranging from mild/moderate to critical severity and assessed type I IFN-, type II IFN-, and NF-κB-dependent whole-blood transcriptional signatures.

Low Plasma Gelsolin Concentrations in Chronic Granulomatous Disease.

Plasma gelsolin (pGSN) is the secreted isoform of an intracellular actin remodeling protein found in high concentrations in human plasma. Clinical studies demonstrate reduced pGSN concentrations in several disease states, including severe trauma, burns, and sepsis. Markedly decreased pGSN concentrations in these conditions precede and predict adverse clinical outcomes.

Recombinant Human Plasma Gelsolin Improves Survival and Attenuates Lung Injury in a Murine Model of Multidrug-Resistant Pneumonia.

Background: Plasma gelsolin (pGSN) is an abundant circulating protein quickly consumed by extensive tissue damage. Marked depletion is associated with later poor outcomes in diverse clinical circumstances. Repletion with recombinant human (rhu)-pGSN in animal models of inflammation lessens mortality and morbidity.

Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Recombinant Human Plasma Gelsolin in Patients Hospitalized for Nonsevere Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

There remains an unmet need to address the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP). Recombinant human plasma gelsolin (rhu-pGSN) improves disease outcomes in diverse animal models of infectious and noninfectious inflammation. This blinded dose-escalation safety study involved non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients admitted for mild CAP and randomized 3:1 to receive adjunctive rhu-pGSN or placebo intravenously.

Low Admission Plasma Gelsolin Concentrations Identify Community-acquired Pneumonia Patients at High Risk for Severe Outcomes.

Background: Plasma gelsolin (pGSN) is an abundant circulating protein that neutralizes actin exposed by damaged cells, modulates inflammatory responses, and enhances alveolar macrophage antimicrobial activity. We investigated whether adults with low pGSN at hospital admission for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were at high risk for severe outcomes.

Methods: Admission pGSN concentrations in 455 adults hospitalized with CAP were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.