Plasma angiopoietin-2 levels were significantly elevated and angiopoietin-1 levels decreased in children with septic shock compared to healthy controls and those with SIRS or sepsis.
Observational (n=116)
Are plasma angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 levels altered in children with septic shock compared to healthy controls and those with less severe systemic inflammation?
Angiopoietin-2 is elevated and angiopoietin-1 is decreased in children with septic shock, suggesting these factors may play an important role in the vascular pathophysiology of the condition.
Angiopoietin (angpt) 1 and angpt-2 are circulating proteins first ascribed opposing roles in embryonic angiogenesis. Both bind the tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like loop and epidermal growth factor homology domains (Tie) 2 receptor on endothelial cells, but angpt-1 is a Tie-2 agonist, whereas angpt-2 antagonizes Tie-2 signaling. In the developed vasculature, angpt-1 protects against vascular leak, whereas angpt-2 promotes increased vascular permeability. Because alterations in vascular permeability are common in septic shock, we obtained plasma from critically ill children within 24 h of diagnosis of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS, n = 20), sepsis (n = 20), or septic shock (n = 61), as well as 15 healthy controls. Plasma levels of angpt-1 and angpt-2 were measured via a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma angpt-2 levels were significantly elevated in children with septic shock when compared with healthy children, as well as critically ill children with either SIRS or sepsis, and circulating angpt-2 levels seemed to correlate with disease severity and outcome. In addition, plasma angpt-1 levels were significantly decreased in critically ill children with septic shock compared with critically ill children with either SIRS or sepsis. Given the contrasting effects of angpt-2 and angpt-1 on the vascular endothelium, these two factors may play an important role in the pathophysiology of septic shock in children, and further studies are warranted.
Giuliano et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Septic shock, sepsis, and SIRS (n=116). Plasma angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 levels vs. Healthy children and critically ill children with SIRS or sepsis was evaluated on Plasma levels of angpt-1 and angpt-2. Plasma angiopoietin-2 levels were significantly elevated and angiopoietin-1 levels decreased in children with septic shock compared to healthy controls and those with SIRS or sepsis.