Decreased HLA-DR antigen-associated invariant chain (CD74) mRNA expression predicts mortality after septic shock.

Introduction: Septic syndromes remain the leading cause of mortality in intensive care units (ICU). Septic patients rapidly develop immune dysfunctions, the intensity and duration of which have been linked with deleterious outcomes. Decreased mRNA expressions of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-related genes have been reported after sepsis.

Identification of biomarkers of response to IFNg during endotoxin tolerance: application to septic shock.

The rapid development in septic patients of features of marked immunosuppression associated with increased risk of nosocomial infections and mortality represents the rational for the initiation of immune targeted treatments in sepsis. However, as there is no clinical sign of immune dysfunctions, the current challenge is to develop biomarkers that will help clinicians identify the patients that would benefit from immunotherapy and monitor its efficacy. Using an in vitro model of endotoxin tolerance (ET), a pivotal feature of sepsis-induced immunosuppression in monocytes, we identified using gene expression profiling by microarray a panel of transcripts associated with the development of ET which expression was restored after immunostimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ).

mRNA-based approach to monitor recombinant gamma-interferon restoration of LPS-induced endotoxin tolerance.

Introduction: It is now well accepted that sepsis is associated with the development of a pronounced immunosuppressive state, characterized by severe immune alterations (e.g. reduced proliferative capacity, endotoxin tolerance, apoptosis) participating in increased mortality and susceptibility to nosocomial infections.

A rapid semi automated method for DNA extraction from dried-blood spots: application to the HLA-DR shared epitope analysis in rheumatoid arthritis.

Genomic DNA extraction for genotyping analysis is performed from blood samples and is time consuming. We describe a more rapid DNA extraction method, "DBS-miniMAG", that combines filter paper dried blood spots (DBS) with the NucliSens miniMAG semi-automated instrument (bioMérieux). To assess the performance of this method, a post-PCR HLA-DR shared epitope (SE) oligotyping assay was used as a read-out in a cohort of 72 arthritis patients.