Serum Concentrations Of sCD14 Research Articles

The Effect of Uterine Lavage on Soluble CD14, Chemokine Ligand 2, and Interleukin 10 Levels in Mares With Postpartum Metritis

Postpartum metritis in mares is a life-threatening condition associated with severe clinical signs due to endotoxemia, and it is often followed by complications such as laminitis. Repeated large-volume uterine lavages are commonly recommended as a part of the treatment protocol to remove endotoxin-laden contents from the uterus. It has, however, also been suggested that lavages may increase the uptake of endotoxin into the circulation, leading to a deterioration of clinical signs. Endotoxemia is associated with the release of a multitude of inflammatory mediators regulating the immune response. The aim of this study was to evaluate if uterine lavage influences serum levels of the inflammation markers soluble CD14 (sCD14), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), and interleukin (IL)-10 in mares with postpartum metritis. Serum samples were collected from eight mares treated for metritis at a university teaching hospital. Mares with fever, tachycardia, and/or leukopenia and hemosanguineous or purulent intrauterine fluid within 1 week of foaling were included in the study. Serum samples were taken before uterine lavage and 15 and 30 minutes after starting the lavage. The concentrations of sCD14, CCL2, and IL-10 were determined with a fluorescent bead–based immunoassay. There were no significant differences between sCD14, CCL2, or IL-10 levels at different sampling times. Heart rate was significantly lower after uterine lavage than before. The differences in body temperature and leukocyte count before and after lavage were not significant. In conclusion, uterine lavage had no immediate effect on the serum concentration of sCD14, CCL2, or IL-10, nor did it affect clinical parameters negatively.

Biological variation of immunological blood biomarkers in healthy individuals and quality goals for biomarker tests

BackgroundCytokines, chemokines, adipocytokines, soluble cell receptors, and immune activation markers play an important role in immune responsiveness and can provide prognostic value since they reflect underlying conditions and disease states. This study was undertaken to investigate the components of biological variation for various laboratory tests of blood immunological biomarkers.ResultsEstimates of intra-individual coefficient of variation (CVI) and inter-individual coefficient of variation (CVG) were examined for blood immunological biomarkers. Biomarkers with CVI < 10% for both genders were CD3, CD4, and CD8 T-cells, serum levels of soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14), sCD163, and soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130). The CVI for serum levels of adiponectin, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 beta (MIP-1β), soluble CD40 Ligand (sCD40L), soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha (sIL-2Rα), soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II (sTNF-RII), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were between 11 and 20%. Biomarkers with CVG < 20% were CD3 T-cell, and serum concentrations of sCD14, sCD40L, and sgp130. The biomarkers with CVG > 40% were adiponectin, IL-1ra, leptin, MIP-1β, sCD163, and sIL-2Rα.ConclusionThe biological variations of biomarkers have important monitoring value for longitudinal investigation and are essential for quality specification of tests that are performed in the laboratory. The CVI was relatively small while CVG was comparatively large and mean values of each biomarker vary between subjects. The individuality of biomarkers significantly influences reference interval values. A majority of the biomarkers in this study had strong individuality and the result of each biomarker should be cautiously interpreted if using established reference interval values. Comparison of a patient’s test result with previous ones may be more useful than the usage of conventional reference values.

Serum sCD14, polymorphism of CD14−260 and periodontal infection

CD14 is a co-receptor involved in the recognition of Gram-negative and positive bacteria. Infections are known to influence serum sCD14 levels, and CD14 gene promoter polymorphism (CD14 C-260T) has been reported to be associated with many infectious diseases. Our aim was to investigate whether serum sCD14 concentration is associated with periodontal infection and the CD14(-260) genotype. The periodontal status of 56 subjects with chronic periodontitis and 28 controls was clinically examined. Serum sCD14 concentration was analyzed using ELISA and CD14(-260) genotype using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mean concentration of sCD14 in serum was significantly higher in subjects with periodontitis than in control subjects (4.9 microg ml(-1)vs 3.8 microg ml(-1), P < 0.001). Serum sCD14 concentration associated significantly with the extent of advanced periodontal disease. In a regression analysis including both subject groups, the CD14(-260) genotype was a significant determinant for serum sCD14 concentration. After stratification by periodontal health status (periodontitis vs controls), the influence of the CD14(-260) genotype on serum sCD14 concentration was seen only in the control group. Periodontal infection is associated with the serum concentration of sCD14. Moderate to severe periodontal infection overshadows the influence of the genotype on serum sCD14 concentration.

Specific Probiotics in Enhancing Maturation of IgA Responses in Formula-Fed Infants

The first months of life represent a critical period for the maturation of the infant's immune system and, thus, a window of opportunity for measures to reduce the risk of disease. We hypothesized that specific probiotics might promote mucosal immunologic maturation in formula-fed infants. The numbers of cow's milk-specific and total IgA-secreting cells were measured at 3, 7, and 12 mo of age in a double-blind placebo-controlled study of 72 infants with early artificial feeding. The infants consumed infant formula supplemented with specific probiotics (Lactobacillus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12) or placebo during the first year of life. Further analyses of the serum concentrations of the IgA-inducing cytokine TGF-beta2 and the soluble innate microbial receptor sCD14 were conducted. The numbers of cow's milk-specific IgA secreting cells were significantly higher in infants receiving probiotics compared with those receiving placebo (p = 0.045, ANOVA for repeated measures). At 12 mo of age, the serum concentrations of sCD14 were 1479 pg/mL [95% confidence interval (CI) 1373-1592] in infants receiving probiotics and 1291 pg/mL (95% CI 1152-1445) in infants receiving placebo (p = 0.046). Administration of the probiotics Lactobacillus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 at the time of introduction of cow's milk in the infant's diet results in cow's milk-specific IgA antibody responsiveness that may be the result of increased production of sCD14.

Elevated serum concentrations of soluble CD14 in HIV- and HIV+ patients with tuberculosis in Africa: prolonged elevation during anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Data are limited regarding serum concentrations of soluble CD14 (sCD14), a marker of macrophage activation, in patients with active tuberculosis (TB) and during drug treatment. In this study, concentrations of sCD14 were measured in serum samples obtained from 105 African subjects who were categorized into one of four groups: persons with pulmonary TB alone (TB+HIV-, n = 30), pulmonary TB and HIV co-infection (TB+HIV+, n = 20), or HIV infection alone (TB-HIV+, n = 25), and healthy controls (TB-HIV-, n = 30). Mean total sCD14 was significantly increased in serum of patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary TB (mean = 6.6 g/ml, s.d. = 1.6 g/ml) compared with healthy controls (mean = 3.1 g/ml, s.d. = 0.6 g/ml; P < 0.0001), and this elevation comprised proportionate increases in the alpha (2.1-fold greater, P < 0.0001) and beta (2.0-fold greater, P < 0. 0001) forms of sCD14. Total sCD14 was also increased in serum of HIV-infected patients (mean = 4.1 g/ml, s.d. = 1.9 g/ml; P < 0.01), but the highest concentrations were observed in patients with pulmonary TB and HIV co-infection (mean = 8.7 g/ml, s.d. = 3.1 g/ml; P < 0.0001). Analysis of serum samples prospectively collected from TB+HIV-patients during the first 3 months of successful anti-TB treatment demonstrated steep reductions in mean concentrations of the acute-phase protein, C-reactive protein, and the soluble lymphocyte activation marker, sCD25. In contrast, levels of sCD14 increased during the first month of treatment and slowly declined thereafter. These data indicate that the serum concentration of sCD14 is not a sensitive index of response to anti-TB treatment and suggest that cellular activation resolves more slowly in the macrophage pool compared with the lymphocyte pool during anti-TB treatment.

Increased Serum Concentration of Soluble CD14 Is a Prognostic Marker in Gram-Positive Sepsis

Increased serum sCD14 concentrations are associated with poor outcome in Gram-negative sepsis and trauma patients. In the present study serum sCD14 concentrations were measured in patients with Gram-positive sepsis and compared with Gram-negative septic and nonseptic intensive care unit patients. Furthermore, serum sCD14 concentration was correlated with patient's outcome. Serum samples of 28 Gram-positive (8 nonsurvivors/20 survivors) and 10 Gram-negative bacteriemic patients (3 nonsurvivors/7 survivors) were obtained at the day they met the sepsis criteria defined by Boneet al.(Day 0) and at Days 4 and 7 and compared with 10 nonseptic ICU patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Serum concentrations of sCD14 were measured by ELISA. Significantly higher sCD14 serum concentrations were found on Days 4 and 7 in Gram-positive nonsurvivors than in Gram-positive survivors (Day 4: 5.85 ± 0.48 vs 4.07 ± 0.43 μg/ml,P< 0.05; Day 7: 6.12 ± 0.46 vs 3.53 ± 0.33 μg/ml,P< 0.01). In addition, sCD14 concentrations of Gram-positive nonsurvivors were significantly higher than those of nonseptic ICU patients and healthy volunteers at any time of observation. However, no significant difference was calculated between Gram-positive and Gram-negative patients. Summarizing our results, the serum level of sCD14 could be proven to be a good prognostic marker in the course of Gram-positive sepsis. Increased levels are associated with a high mortality.