Soluble Semaphorin 4D Serum Concentrations Are Elevated in Critically Ill Patients with Liver Cirrhosis and Correlate with Aminotransferases

Diagnostics, vol. 14, pp. 370

Abstract

Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D), also known as CD100, is a multifunctional transmembrane protein with immunoregulatory functions. Upon the activation of immune cells, soluble Semaphorin 4D (sSema4D) is proteolytically cleaved from the membrane by metalloproteinases. sSema4D levels are elevated in various (auto-)inflammatory diseases. Our aim was to investigate sSema4D levels in association with sepsis and critical illnesses and to evaluate sSema4D's potential as a prognostic biomarker. We measured sSema4D levels in 192 patients upon admission to our medical intensive care unit. We found similar levels of sSema4D in 125 patients with sepsis compared to 67 non-septic patients. sSema4D levels correlated with leukocytes but not with other markers of systemic inflammation such as C-reactive protein or procalcitonin. Most interestingly, in a subgroup of patients suffering from pre-existing liver cirrhosis, we observed significantly higher levels of sSema4D. Consistently, sSema4D was also positively correlated with markers of hepatic and cholestatic injury. Our study suggests that sSema4D is not regulated in sepsis compared to other causes of critical illness. However, sSema4D seems to be associated with hepatic injury and inflammation.

Authors 13

1. Samira Abu Jhaisha Aachen Department of Medicine III

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Philipp Hohlstein Aachen Department of Medicine III

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Eray Yagmur
   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Western Palatinate Hospital, 67655 Kaiserslautern, Germany

4. Maike R. Pollmanns Aachen Department of Medicine III

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

5. Jule K. Adams Aachen Department of Medicine III

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

6. Theresa Hildegard Wirtz Aachen Department of Medicine III

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

7. Jonathan Frederik Brozat Aachen Department of Medicine III

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · Stiftung Charité · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany

   Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

8. Lukas Bündgens Aachen Department of Medicine III

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

9. Karim Hamesch Aachen Department of Medicine III

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

10. Ralf Weiskirchen Aachen Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC)

    Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

11. Frank Tacke

    Stiftung Charité · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany

12. Christian Trautwein Aachen Department of Medicine III

    Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

13. Alexander Hemdorff Koch corresponding Aachen Department of Medicine III

    Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine III, RWTH-University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany