T helper type cytokines in sepsis: time-shared variance and correlation with organ dysfunction and hospital mortality

Abstract Objective We evaluated the kinetics of cytokines belonging to the T helper1 (Th1), Th2, and Th17 profiles in septic patients, and their correlations with organ dysfunction and hospital mortality. Methods This was a prospective observational study in a cohort of septic patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICU) of three Brazilian general hospitals. A total of 104 septic patients and 53 health volunteers (controls) were included. Plasma samples were collected within the first 48 h of organ dysfunction or septic shock (0D), after seven (D7) and 14 days (D14) of follow-up. The following cytokines were measured by flow cytometry: Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12/23p40, IL-17, IL-21, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Results IL-6, IL-8, G-CSF and IL-10 concentrations were higher in septic patients than in controls ( p p  = 0.003). IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17 correlated with Sequential [Sepsis-related] Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) D0, D1 and D3 (except for IL-6 at D0). IL-8 was associated with renal and cardiovascular dysfunction. In a mixed model analysis, IL-10 estimated means were lower in survivors than in deceased ( p  = 0.014), while IL-21 had an estimated mean of 195.8 pg/mL for survivors and 98.5 for deceased ( p  = 0.03). Cytokines were grouped in four factors according to their kinetics over the three dosages (D0, D7, D14). Group 1 encompassed IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1β, and G-CSF while Group 3 encompassed IL-17 and IL-12/23p40. Both correlated with SOFA (D0) ( p  = 0.039 and p  = 0.003, respectively). IL-21 (Group 4) was higher in those who survived. IL-2, TNF-α and GM-CSF (Group 2) showed no correlation with outcomes. Conclusion Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines shared co-variance in septic patients and were related to organ dysfunctions and hospital mortality.