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Slim MA, van Mourik N, Bakkerus L, Fuller K, Acharya L, Giannidis T, Dionne JC, Oczkowski SJW, Netea MG, Pickkers P, Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Müller MCA, van der Poll T, Wiersinga WJ, Vlaar APJ, van Vught LA. Towards personalized medicine: a scoping review of immunotherapy in sepsis. Crit Care 2024; 28:183. [PMID: 38807151 PMCID: PMC11134696 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-024-04964-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite significant progress in our understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis and extensive clinical research, there are few proven therapies addressing the underlying immune dysregulation of this life-threatening condition. The aim of this scoping review is to describe the literature evaluating immunotherapy in adult patients with sepsis, emphasizing on methods providing a "personalized immunotherapy" approach, which was defined as the classification of patients into a distinct subgroup or subphenotype, in which a patient's immune profile is used to guide treatment. Subgroups are subsets of sepsis patients, based on any cut-off in a variable. Subphenotypes are subgroups that can be reliably discriminated from other subgroup based on data-driven assessments. Included studies were randomized controlled trials and cohort studies investigating immunomodulatory therapies in adults with sepsis. Studies were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov, from the first paper available until January 29th, 2024. The search resulted in 15,853 studies. Title and abstract screening resulted in 1409 studies (9%), assessed for eligibility; 771 studies were included, of which 282 (37%) were observational and 489 (63%) interventional. Treatment groups included were treatments targeting the innate immune response, the complement system, coagulation and endothelial dysfunction, non-pharmalogical treatment, pleiotropic drugs, immunonutrition, concomitant treatments, Traditional Chinese Medicine, immunostimulatory cytokines and growth factors, intravenous immunoglobulins, mesenchymal stem cells and immune-checkpoint inhibitors. A personalized approach was incorporated in 70 studies (9%). Enrichment was applied using cut-offs in temperature, laboratory, biomarker or genetic variables. Trials often showed conflicting results, possibly due to the lack of patient stratification or the potential influence of severity and timing on immunomodulatory therapy results. When a personalized approach was applied, trends of clinical benefit for several interventions emerged, which hold promise for future clinical trials using personalized immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marleen A Slim
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, Room G3-220, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Niels van Mourik
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, Room G3-220, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lieke Bakkerus
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Lydia Acharya
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | | | - Joanna C Dionne
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- The Guidelines in Intensive Care Development and Evaluation (GUIDE) Group, Research Institute St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Simon J W Oczkowski
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- The Guidelines in Intensive Care Development and Evaluation (GUIDE) Group, Research Institute St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Pickkers
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marcella C A Müller
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, Room G3-220, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom van der Poll
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W Joost Wiersinga
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander P J Vlaar
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, Room G3-220, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lonneke A van Vught
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, Room G3-220, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Wu Y, Wang L, Li Y, Cao Y, Wang M, Deng Z, Kang H. Immunotherapy in the context of sepsis-induced immunological dysregulation. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1391395. [PMID: 38835773 PMCID: PMC11148279 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1391395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a clinical syndrome caused by uncontrollable immune dysregulation triggered by pathogen infection, characterized by high incidence, mortality rates, and disease burden. Current treatments primarily focus on symptomatic relief, lacking specific therapeutic interventions. The core mechanism of sepsis is believed to be an imbalance in the host's immune response, characterized by early excessive inflammation followed by late immune suppression, triggered by pathogen invasion. This suggests that we can develop immunotherapeutic treatment strategies by targeting and modulating the components and immunological functions of the host's innate and adaptive immune systems. Therefore, this paper reviews the mechanisms of immune dysregulation in sepsis and, based on this foundation, discusses the current state of immunotherapy applications in sepsis animal models and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqi Wu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Medical Center, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Medical Center, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Medical Center, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Cao
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Medical Center, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zihui Deng
- Department of Basic Medicine, Graduate School, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongjun Kang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Medical Center, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing, China
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Thomas-Rüddel D, Bauer M, Moita LF, Helbig C, Schlattmann P, Ehler J, Rahmel T, Meybohm P, Gründling M, Schenk H, Köcher T, Brunkhorst FM, Gräler M, Heger AJ, Weis S. Epirubicin for the Treatment of Sepsis and Septic Shock (EPOS-1): study protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled phase IIa dose-escalation trial. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e075158. [PMID: 38653508 PMCID: PMC11043739 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sepsis remains the major cause of death among hospitalised patients in intensive care. While targeting sepsis-causing pathogens with source control or antimicrobials has had a dramatic impact on morbidity and mortality of sepsis patients, this strategy remains insufficient for about one-third of the affected individuals who succumb. Pharmacological targeting of mechanisms that reduce sepsis-defining organ dysfunction may be beneficial. When given at low doses, the anthracycline epirubicin promotes tissue damage control and lessens the severity of sepsis independently of the host-pathogen load by conferring disease tolerance to infection. Since epirubicin at higher doses can be myelotoxic, a first dose-response trial is necessary to assess the potential harm of this drug in this new indication. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Epirubicin for the Treatment of Sepsis and Septic Shock-1 is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 dose-escalation phase IIa clinical trial to assess the safety of epirubicin as an adjunctive in patients with sepsis. The primary endpoint is the 14-day myelotoxicity. Secondary and explorative outcomes include 30-day and 90-day mortality, organ dysfunction, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) and cytokine release. Patients will be randomised in three consecutive phases. For each study phase, patients are randomised to one of the two study arms (epirubicin or placebo) in a 4:1 ratio. Approximately 45 patients will be recruited. Patients in the epirubicin group will receive a single dose of epirubicin (3.75, 7.5 or 15 mg/m2 depending on the study phase. After each study phase, a data and safety monitoring board will recommend continuation or premature stopping of the trial. The primary analyses for each dose level will report the proportion of myelotoxicity together with a 95% CI. A potential dose-toxicity association will be analysed using a logistic regression model with dose as a covariate. All further analyses will be descriptive. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The protocol is approved by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05033808.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Thomas-Rüddel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Bauer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Christiane Helbig
- Center for Clinical Studies, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Peter Schlattmann
- Institute of Medical Statistics, Computer Sciences, and Data Science, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Johannes Ehler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Tim Rahmel
- Clinic for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, University Medical Center Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Patrick Meybohm
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Gründling
- Department of Anesthesiology, Greifswald, University Hospital of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Heiko Schenk
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Köcher
- Vienna BioCenter Core Facilities GmbH, Wien, Austria
| | - Frank M Brunkhorst
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Markus Gräler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Ann-Julika Heger
- Center for Clinical Studies, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Weis
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Infection Biology and Natural Products Research, Hans-Knöll Institute - HKI, Jena, Germany
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Pei F, Gu B, Miao SM, Guan XD, Wu JF. Clinical practice of sepsis-induced immunosuppression: Current immunotherapy and future options. Chin J Traumatol 2024; 27:63-70. [PMID: 38040590 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition characterized by the failure of one or more organs due to a disordered host response to infection. The development of sepsis is closely linked to immune dysfunction. As a result, immunotherapy has gained traction as a promising approach to sepsis treatment, as it holds the potential to reverse immunosuppression and restore immune balance, thereby improving the prognosis of septic patients. However, due to the highly heterogeneous nature of sepsis, it is crucial to carefully select the appropriate patient population for immunotherapy. This review summarizes the current and evolved treatments for sepsis-induced immunosuppression to enhance clinicians' understanding and practical application of immunotherapy in the management of sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Pei
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Guangdong Clinical Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Bin Gu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Guangdong Clinical Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Shu-Min Miao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Guangdong Clinical Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiang-Dong Guan
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Guangdong Clinical Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jian-Feng Wu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Guangdong Clinical Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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Slim MA, Turgman O, van Vught LA, van der Poll T, Wiersinga WJ. Non-conventional immunomodulation in the management of sepsis. Eur J Intern Med 2024; 121:9-16. [PMID: 37919123 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2023.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Sepsis remains a critical global health issue, demanding novel therapeutic strategies. Traditional immunomodulation treatments such as corticosteroids, specific modifiers of cytokines, complement or coagulation, growth factors or immunoglobulins, have so far fallen short. Meanwhile the number of studies investigating non-conventional immunomodulatory strategies is expanding. This review provides an overview of adjunctive treatments with herbal-based medicine, immunonutrition, vasopressors, sedative treatments and targeted temperature management, used to modulate the immune response in patients with sepsis. Herbal-based medicine, notably within traditional Chinese medicine, shows promise. Xuebijing injection and Shenfu injection exhibit anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects, and the potential to lower 28-day mortality in sepsis. Selenium supplementation has been reported to reduce the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia among sepsis patients, but study results are conflicting. Likewise, the immune-suppressive effects of omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with improved clinical outcomes in sepsis. The immunomodulating properties of supportive treatments also gain interest. Vasopressors like norepinephrine exhibit dual dosage-dependent roles, potentially promoting both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. Dexmedetomidine, a sedative, demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties, reducing sepsis mortality rates in some studies. Temperature management, particularly maintaining higher body temperature, has also been associated with improved outcomes in small scale human trials. In conclusion, emerging non-conventional immunomodulatory approaches, including herbal medicine, immunonutrition, and targeted supportive therapies, hold potential for sepsis treatment, but their possible implementation into everyday clinical practice necessitates further research and stringent clinical validation in different settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Slim
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers - Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Intensive Care, Amsterdam University Medical Centers - Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - O Turgman
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers - Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - L A van Vught
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers - Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Intensive Care, Amsterdam University Medical Centers - Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - T van der Poll
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers - Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers - Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - W J Wiersinga
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers - Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers - Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Vogeler M, Schenz J, Müller E, Weigand M, Fischer D. [The Immune System of the Critically Ill Patient]. Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther 2024; 59:96-112. [PMID: 38354730 DOI: 10.1055/a-2070-3516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Critically ill patients often experience a dysregulated immune response, leading to immune dysfunction. Sepsis, trauma, severe infections, and certain medical conditions can trigger a state of systemic inflammation, known as the cytokine storm. This hyperactive immune response can cause collateral damage to healthy tissues and organs, exacerbating the patient's condition. On the other hand, some critically ill patients may suffer from immune paralysis which can increase the risk of nosocomial infections.Fever is an evolutionary adaptation that evolved as an effective defense mechanism to fight invading pathogens. By raising body temperature, fever enhances the immune response, inhibits pathogen growth, promotes recovery, and aids in the formation of immune memory. Understanding the role of fever in the context of immune defense is crucial for optimizing medical interventions and supporting the body's natural ability to combat infections.Future Directions: Advancements in immunology research and technology hold promise for better understanding the immune system's complexities in critically ill patients. Personalized medicine approaches may be developed to tailor therapies to individual patients based on their immune profile, optimizing treatment outcomes. Based on recent studies prognostic parameters such as lymphocyte count, IL-10 concentration and mHLA-DR expression can be used to stratify the immunological response pattern in septic patients.Conclusion: The immune system's response in critically ill patients is a multifaceted process, involving intricate interactions between various immune cells, cytokines, and organs. Striking the delicate balance between immune activation and suppression remains a significant challenge in clinical practice. Continued research and therapeutic innovations are vital to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of critical illness on healthcare systems.
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Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Aschenbrenner AC, Bauer M, Bock C, Calandra T, Gat-Viks I, Kyriazopoulou E, Lupse M, Monneret G, Pickkers P, Schultze JL, van der Poll T, van de Veerdonk FL, Vlaar APJ, Weis S, Wiersinga WJ, Netea MG. The pathophysiology of sepsis and precision-medicine-based immunotherapy. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:19-28. [PMID: 38168953 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01660-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Sepsis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in both low- and high-income countries. Antibiotic therapy and supportive care have significantly improved survival following sepsis in the twentieth century, but further progress has been challenging. Immunotherapy trials for sepsis, mainly aimed at suppressing the immune response, from the 1990s and 2000s, have largely failed, in part owing to unresolved patient heterogeneity in the underlying immune disbalance. The past decade has brought the promise to break this blockade through technological developments based on omics-based technologies and systems medicine that can provide a much larger data space to describe in greater detail the immune endotypes in sepsis. Patient stratification opens new avenues towards precision medicine approaches that aim to apply immunotherapies to sepsis, on the basis of precise biomarkers and molecular mechanisms defining specific immune endotypes. This approach has the potential to lead to the establishment of immunotherapy as a successful pillar in the treatment of sepsis for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos J Giamarellos-Bourboulis
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
- Hellenic Institute for the Study of Sepsis, Athens, Greece
| | - Anna C Aschenbrenner
- Systems Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Bauer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Medical University of Vienna, Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Center for Medical Data Science, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thierry Calandra
- Service of Immunology and Allergy and Center of Human Immunology Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Irit Gat-Viks
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Evdoxia Kyriazopoulou
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
- Hellenic Institute for the Study of Sepsis, Athens, Greece
| | - Mihaela Lupse
- Infectious Diseases Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Iuliu Hatieganu', Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Guillaume Monneret
- Joint Research Unit HCL-bioMérieux, EA 7426 'Pathophysiology of Injury-Induced Immunosuppression' (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 - Hospices Civils de Lyon, bioMérieux), Lyon, France
- Immunology Laboratory, Edouard Herriot Hospital - Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Peter Pickkers
- Department of Intensive Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joachim L Schultze
- Systems Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- PRECISE Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) and the University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Genomics and Immunoregulation, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tom van der Poll
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank L van de Veerdonk
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander P J Vlaar
- Department of Intensive Care and Laboratory of Experimental Intensive Care and Anesthesiology L.E.C.A. Amsterdam Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Weis
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute-HKI, Jena, Germany
| | - W Joost Wiersinga
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC), Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine (CEMM), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Genomics and Immunoregulation, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Xie S, Li J, Lyu F, Xiong Q, Gu P, Chen Y, Chen M, Bao J, Zhang X, Wei R, Deng Y, Wang H, Zeng Z, Chen Z, Deng Y, Lian Z, Zhao J, Gong W, Chen Y, Liu KX, Duan Y, Jiang Y, Zhou HW, Chen P. Novel tripeptide RKH derived from Akkermansia muciniphila protects against lethal sepsis. Gut 2023; 73:78-91. [PMID: 37553229 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The pathogenesis of sepsis is complex, and the sepsis-induced systemic proinflammatory phase is one of the key drivers of organ failure and consequent mortality. Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) is recognised as a functional probiotic strain that exerts beneficial effects on the progression of many diseases; however, whether AKK participates in sepsis pathogenesis is still unclear. Here, we evaluated the potential contribution of AKK to lethal sepsis development. DESIGN Relative abundance of gut microbial AKK in septic patients was evaluated. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection were employed to establish sepsis in mice. Non-targeted and targeted metabolomics analysis were used for metabolites analysis. RESULTS We first found that the relative abundance of gut microbial AKK in septic patients was significantly reduced compared with that in non-septic controls. Live AKK supplementation, as well as supplementation with its culture supernatant, remarkably reduced sepsis-induced mortality in sepsis models. Metabolomics analysis and germ-free mouse validation experiments revealed that live AKK was able to generate a novel tripeptide Arg-Lys-His (RKH). RKH exerted protective effects against sepsis-induced death and organ damage. Furthermore, RKH markedly reduced sepsis-induced inflammatory cell activation and proinflammatory factor overproduction. A mechanistic study revealed that RKH could directly bind to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and block TLR4 signal transduction in immune cells. Finally, we validated the preventive effects of RKH against sepsis-induced systemic inflammation and organ damage in a piglet model. CONCLUSION We revealed that a novel tripeptide, RKH, derived from live AKK, may act as a novel endogenous antagonist for TLR4. RKH may serve as a novel potential therapeutic approach to combat lethal sepsis after successfully translating its efficacy into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Xie
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fengyuan Lyu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingming Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Peng Gu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuqi Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meiling Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingna Bao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xianglong Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongjuan Wei
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youpeng Deng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hongzheng Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhenhua Zeng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongqing Chen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongqiang Deng
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoshi Lian
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Ye Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Ke-Xuan Liu
- Departmentof Anesthesiology, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi Duan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong-Wei Zhou
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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9
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Bode C, Weis S, Sauer A, Wendel-Garcia P, David S. Targeting the host response in sepsis: current approaches and future evidence. Crit Care 2023; 27:478. [PMID: 38057824 PMCID: PMC10698949 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-023-04762-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis, a dysregulated host response to infection characterized by organ failure, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Disbalances of the immune response play an important role in its pathophysiology. Patients may develop simultaneously or concomitantly states of systemic or local hyperinflammation and immunosuppression. Although a variety of effective immunomodulatory treatments are generally available, attempts to inhibit or stimulate the immune system in sepsis have failed so far to improve patients' outcome. The underlying reason is likely multifaceted including failure to identify responders to a specific immune intervention and the complex pathophysiology of organ dysfunction that is not exclusively caused by immunopathology but also includes dysfunction of the coagulation system, parenchymal organs, and the endothelium. Increasing evidence suggests that stratification of the heterogeneous population of septic patients with consideration of their host response might led to treatments that are more effective. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of current studies aimed at optimizing the many facets of host response and to discuss future perspectives for precision medicine approaches in sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bode
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Weis
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Infection Control, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll Institute-HKI, Jena, Germany
| | - Andrea Sauer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Pedro Wendel-Garcia
- Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sascha David
- Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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10
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Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ. Adjunctive treatment in COVID-19 and sepsis-What did we learn? Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed 2023; 118:80-85. [PMID: 37966529 PMCID: PMC10733190 DOI: 10.1007/s00063-023-01089-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of anakinra, baricitinib and tocilizumab into the treatment armamentarium of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reinforced the concept of immunotherapy for bacterial sepsis. The current review investigates how the example of COVID-19 may be extrapolated to sepsis using a three-step approach. In the first step, the clinical evidence on how the immunotherapy of COVID-19 assisted viral clearance is presented. In a second step, the indications acquired from human and animal studies on the need to employ strategies with primary effective phagocytosis in sepsis are presented. In a final step, lessons learnt from COVID-19 immunotherapy are applied for sepsis. The end result is that sepsis immunotherapy should rely on the use of biomarkers which provide information on the activation of a specific prevailing mechanism in order to enable the selection of the appropriate drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos J Giamarellos-Bourboulis
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, ATTIKON University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, 1 Rimini Street, 124 62 Athens, Greece.
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11
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Kyriazopoulou E, Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Akinosoglou K. Biomarkers to guide immunomodulatory treatment: where do we stand? Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2023; 23:945-958. [PMID: 37691280 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2258063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This review summarizes current progress in the development of biomarkers to guide immunotherapy in oncology, rheumatology, and critical illness. AREAS COVERED An extensive literature search was performed about biomarkers classifying patients' immune responses to guide immunotherapy in oncology, rheumatology, and critical illness. Surface markers, such as programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), genetic biomarkers, such as tumor mutation load, and circulating tumor DNA are biomarkers associated with the effectiveness of immunotherapy in oncology. Genomics, metabolomics, and proteomics play a crucial role in selecting the most suitable therapeutic options for rheumatologic patients. Phenotypes and endotypes are a promising approach to detect critically ill patients with hyper- or hypo-inflammation. Sepsis trials using biomarkers such as ferritin, lymphopenia, HLA-DR expression on monocytes and PD-L1 to guide immunotherapy have been already conducted or are currently ongoing. Immunotherapy in COVID-19 pneumonia, guided by C-reactive protein and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has improved patient outcomes globally. More research is needed into immunotherapy in other critical conditions. EXPERT OPINION Targeted immunotherapy has improved outcomes in oncology and rheumatology, paving the way for precision medicine in the critically ill. Transcriptomics will play a crucial role in detecting the most suitable candidates for immunomodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evdoxia Kyriazopoulou
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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12
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Marques A, Torre C, Pinto R, Sepodes B, Rocha J. Treatment Advances in Sepsis and Septic Shock: Modulating Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12082892. [PMID: 37109229 PMCID: PMC10142733 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12082892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is currently defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, and it affects over 25 million people every year. Even more severe, septic shock is a subset of sepsis defined by persistent hypotension, and hospital mortality rates are higher than 40%. Although early sepsis mortality has greatly improved in the past few years, sepsis patients who survive the hyperinflammation and subsequent organ damage often die from long-term complications, such as secondary infection, and despite decades of clinical trials targeting this stage of the disease, currently, no sepsis-specific therapies exist. As new pathophysiological mechanisms have been uncovered, immunostimulatory therapy has emerged as a promising path forward. Highly investigated treatment strategies include cytokines and growth factors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and even cellular therapies. There is much to be learned from related illnesses, and immunotherapy trials in oncology, as well as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have greatly informed sepsis research. Although the journey ahead is a long one, the stratification of patients according to their immune status and the employment of combination therapies represent a hopeful way forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Marques
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carla Torre
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rui Pinto
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Joaquim Chaves Saúde, Joaquim Chaves Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Miraflores, 1495-069 Algés, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sepodes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Rocha
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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