Detection of microRNAs in patients with sepsis

Objective: To externally validate the diagnostic and prognostic value of three previously identified microRNAs in emergency department patients with sepsis. Methods: Patients meeting consensus criteria for sepsis and septic shock were compared to controls. Three microRNAs (miR-150, miR-146a, and miR-223) were measured using real-time quantitative PCR, and levels of miRNAs were compared among the three cohorts. The association between miRNAs and both inflammatory markers and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score were compared. To assess the prognostic value of each miRNA, unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were constructed using in-hospital mortality as the dependent variable. Results: Ninety-three patients were enrolled; 24 controls, 29 with sepsis, and 40 with septic shock. We found no difference in serum plasma miR-146a or miR-223 between cohorts, and found no association among these microRNAs and either inflammatory markers or SOFA score. miR-150 demonstrated a significant correlation with SOFA score (P = 0.31, P=0.01) and IL-10 (P=0.37, P=0.001), but no IL-6 or TNF-alpha (P=0.046, P=0.59). Logistic regression demonstrated miR-150 to be independently associated with mortality, even after adjusting for SOFA score (P=0.003) or initial lactate (P=0.01). Conclusions: miR-146a and miR-223 demonstrated no significantly diagnostic or prognostic ability in this cohort. miR-150 was associated with inflammation, severity of illness, and mortality. Given the independent predictive value of miR-150, additional research regarding its role in sepsis is warranted.