Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2013.013

Increased plasma zonulin in patients with sepsis

Daniel A. Klaus ; 1Department of Anesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 2RAIC Laboratory 13C1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Michael C. Motal ; 1Department of Anesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 2RAIC Laboratory 13C1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Ursula Burger-Klepp ; Department of Anesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Corinna Marschalek ; Department of Anesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Elisabeth M. Schmidt ; 1Department of Anesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 2RAIC Laboratory 13C1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Diana Lebherz-Eichinger ; 1Department of Anesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 2RAIC Laboratory 13C1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Claus G. Krenn ; 1Department of Anesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 2RAIC Laboratory 13C1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Georg A. Roth ; 1Department of Anesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 2RAIC Laboratory 13C1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Abstract

Introduction: Zonulin is a eukaryotic protein structurally similar to Vibrio cholerae’s zonula occludens toxin. It plays an important role in the opening of small intestine tight junctions. The loss of gut wall integrity during sepsis might be pivotal and has been described in various experimental as well as human studies. Increased levels of zonulin could be demonstrated in diseases associated with increased intestinal inflammation, such as celiac disease and type 1 diabetes. We therefore investigated the role of plasma levels of zonulin in patients with sepsis as a non-invasive marker of gut wall integrity.
Materials and methods: Plasma level of zonulin was measured in 25 patients with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock according to ACCP/SCCM criteria at the first day of diagnosed sepsis. 18 non-septic post-surgical ICU-patients and 20 healthy volunteers served as control. Plasma levels were determined by using commercially available ELISA kit. Data are given as median and interquartile range (IQR).
Results: Significantly higher plasma concentration of zonulin were found in the sepsis group: 6.61 ng/mL (IQR 3.51-9.46), as compared to the to the post-surgical control group: 3.40 ng/mL (IQR 2.14-5.70) (P = 0.025), as well as to the healthy group: 3.55 ng/mL (IQR 3.14-4.14) (P = 0.008).
Conclusion: We were able demonstrate elevated levels of plasma zonulin, a potential marker of intestinal permeability in septic patients. Increased zonulin may serve as an additional mechanism for the observed increased intestinal permeability during sepsis and SIRS.

Keywords

zonulin; sepsis; gut wall; tight junctions; intensive care

Hrčak ID:

97253

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/97253

Publication date:

15.2.2013.

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