Detection of canine and equine procalcitonin for sepsis diagnosis in veterinary clinic by the development of novel MIP-based SPR biosensors

Preparation of dual-functional epitope imprinted polymers for the enrichment of transferrin

Transferrin (TRF), a glycoprotein involved in cellular iron uptake, is a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of several diseases and cancers. Therefore, the identification and isolation of TRF is clinically important. In this work, we prepared magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (EMIP) based on metal chelation using norepinephrine and 3-aminophenylboronic acid as functional monomers. The obtained EMIP shows excellent recognition of TRF with the adsorption capacity of 94.2 mg/g and imprinting factor of 3.50. In addition, EMIP was characterized by high specificity, good adsorption performance and stability, and was successfully used for the analysis of TRF in human serum. The present study provides a reliable scheme for targeted epitope imprinting of polymers with metal chelating and dual-functional monomers, showing great potential for biosample analysis.

What we know about alterations in immune cells during sepsis in veterinary animals?

Sepsis is still one of the most common causes of death of animals and humans. It is marked by an aberrant immune response to infection, resulting in extensive inflammation, organ dysfunction, and, in severe instances, organ failure. Recognizable symptoms and markers of sepsis encompass substantial elevations in body temperature, respiratory rate, hemoglobin levels, and alterations in immune cell counts, including neutrophils, monocytes, and basophils, along with increases in certain acute-phase proteins. In contrast to human medicine, veterinarians must take into account some species differences. This article provides a comprehensive overview of changes in the immune system during sepsis, placing particular emphasis on species variations and exploring potential future drugs and interventions. Hence, understanding the intricate balance of the immune responses during sepsis is crucial to develop effective treatments and interventions to improve the chances of recovery in animals suffering from this serious condition.

Toward nano-sized imprinted norepinephrine-derived biopolymer as artificial receptors for detecting IgG1 by surface plasmon resonance

Bio-based nanostructured molecularly imprinted polymers (nano-MIPs), also known as 'plastibodies', have a real potential to be used as alternatives to natural antibodies. These nanostructures have recently gained significant attention for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In this context, we have developed polynorepinephrine (PNE)-based nano-MIPs using an eco-friendly one-pot process for the sensitive and selective detection of a model biomolecule, immunoglobulin IgG1. We first investigated non-imprinted nanostructures (nano-NIPs) based on polydopamine as reference material, using DLS, SEM, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Subsequently, PNE scaffolds were characterized, both in the form of nano-NIPs and nano-MIPs. Concerning nano-MIPs, we used the epitope-directed imprinting technology to create binding cavities using a small peptide from the constant region of IgG1 as a template. Nano-MIPs were initially immobilized on a sensing surface to assess their binding capacity via surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy. This strategy showed very good sensitivity, outperforming planar PNE-based imprinted films while keeping a high selectivity even in complex biological matrices such as human serum. Furthermore, we confirmed the presence of selective binding sites on nano-MIPs by flowing them, along with nano-NIPs, through a microfluidic SPR system, where they interact with the covalently immobilized analyte. This approach resulted in a good imprinting factor of 4.5. Overall, this study underscores the broad potential of these nanostructures as a viable and reusable alternative to antibodies across a variety of bioanalytical, biochemical, and immunohistochemistry analysis techniques.

Validation of a plasmonic-based serology biosensor for veterinary diagnosis of COVID-19 in domestic animals

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic recently demonstrated the devastating impact on public health, economy, and social development of zoonotic infectious diseases, whereby viruses jump from animals to infect humans. Due to this potential of viruses to cross the species barrier, the surveillance of infectious pathogens circulation in domestic and close-to-human animals is indispensable, as they could be potential reservoirs. Optical biosensors, mainly those based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), have widely demonstrated its ability for providing direct, label-free, and quantitative bioanalysis with excellent sensitivity and reliability. This biosensor technology can provide a powerful tool to the veterinary field, potentially being helpful for the monitoring of the infection spread. We have implemented a multi-target COVID-19 serology plasmonic biosensor for the rapid testing and screening of common European domestic animals. The multi-target serological biosensor assay enables the detection of total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgG + IgM) generated towards both S and N viral antigens. The analysis is performed in less than 15 min with a low-volume serum sample (<20 μL, 1:10 dilution), reaching a limit of detection of 49.6 ng mL-1. A complete validation has been carried out with hamster, dog, and cat sera samples (N = 75, including 37 COVID-19-positive and 38 negative samples). The biosensor exhibits an excellent diagnostic sensitivity (100 %) and good specificity (71.4 %) for future application in veterinary settings. Furthermore, the biosensor technology is integrated into a compact, portable, and user-friendly device, well-suited for point-of-care testing. This study positions our plasmonic biosensor as an alternative and reliable diagnostic tool for COVID-19 serology in animal samples, expanding the applicability of plasmonic technologies for decentralized analysis in veterinary healthcare and animal research.

Chitosan modified graphene field-effect transistor biosensor for ultrasensitive procalcitonin detection

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response caused by a bacterial infection that often leading to tissue damage, organ failure and death. Procalcitonin (PCT), as a peptide precursor to hormones, is the main biomarker to identification of the sepsis. In this study, a chitosan modified graphene field transistor (CTS-GFET) was established and first time used for PCT ultra-sensitive detection. CTS was functionalized on the GFET channel surface to immobilized anti-PCT by glutaraldehyde. This biosensor exhibited the detection limit as low as 0.82 ag/mL in PBS, which exhibited 3 times enhancement compared with GFET biosensors. The enhancement mechanisms of CTS-GFET were studied by electrical theoretical model. In addition, the CTS-GFET biosensor was successfully applied to quantify the concentration of the PCT in human serum samples, indicating the potential use in clinical application.

Nanobiosensors for procalcitonin (PCT) analysis

BACKGROUND

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a critical biomarker that is released in response to bacterial infections and can be used to differentiate the pathogenesis of the infectious process.

OBJECTIVE

In this article, we provide an overview of recent advances in PCT biosensors, highlighting different approaches for biosensor construction, different immobilization methods, advantages and roles of different matrices used, analytical performance, and PCT biosensor construction. Also, we will explain PCT biosensors sensible limits of detection (LOD), linearity, and other analytical characteristics. Future prospects for the development of better PCT biosensor systems are also discussed.

METHODS

Traditional methods such as capillary electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry are effective in analyzing PCT in the medical field, but they are complicated, time-consuming sample preparation, and require expensive equipment and skilled personnel.

RESULTS

In the past decades, PCT biosensors have emerged as simple, fast, and sensitive tools for PCT analysis in various fields, especially medical fields.

CONCLUSION

These biosensors have the potential to accompany or replace traditional analytical methods by simplifying or reducing sample preparation and making field testing easier and faster, while significantly reducing the cost per analysis.

Serotonin: A new super effective functional monomer for molecular imprinting. The case of TNF-α detection in real matrix by Surface Plasmon Resonance

Molecular imprinting and related technologies are becoming increasingly appreciated in bioanalysis and diagnostic applications. Among the imprinted polymers, we have already demonstrated that the endogenous neurotransmitters (NTs) dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) can be efficiently used as natural and sustainable monomers to straightforwardly design and synthesize a new generation of green and "soft" Molecularly Imprinted BioPolymers (MIBPs). Here, we demonstrated for the first time the ability of a further NT, i.e., serotonin (SE), in forming adhesive imprinted nanofilms coupled to label-free optical biosensing. Its imprinting efficiency is compared with those obtained with PDA and PNE. As a model study, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was selected as a biomolecular target of interest in clinical diagnostics. The biomimetic receptor was coupled to Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), and TNF-α detection was performed in label-free and real-time manner both in buffer and biological matrices, i.e. synovial fluid and human serum. The results indicate that, under the same imprinting and binding conditions, the analytical performances of PSE are impressively superior to those of PDA and PNE. The PSE-based MIBP was able to detect TNF-α in human matrices with a good sensitivity, selectivity, and repeatability.

Case-Control Study: Endogenous Procalcitonin and Protein Carbonylated Content as a Potential Biomarker of Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows

Procalcitonin (PCT) and protein carbonylated content (PCC) are promising biomarkers for bacterial infection and inflammation in veterinary medicine. This study examined plasma PCT and PCC levels in healthy cows (H) and cows with subclinical mastitis (SCM). A total of 130 cows (65 H and 65 SCM) were included in this study. Blood samples were collected, and plasma was frozen at -80 °C. PCT levels were determined using a bovine procalcitonin ELISA kit, while PCC was measured following the methodology of Levine et al. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in PCT levels between H (75.4 pg/mL) and SCM (107.3 pg/mL) cows (p < 0.001) and significantly lower concentrations of PCC in the SCM group (H: 0.102 nmol/mL/mg, SCM: 0.046 nmol/mL/mg; p < 0.001). The PCT cut-off value for distinguishing healthy and subclinical mastitis animals was >89.8 pg/mL (AUC 0.695), with a sensitivity of 66.2% and specificity of 69.2%. PCT showed potential value as a diagnostic tool to help in decision making for subclinical mastitis cases, while PCC requires further studies to investigate the trend of this biomarker during localized pathology.

In situ synthesis and dynamic simulation of molecularly imprinted polymeric nanoparticles on a micro-reactor system

Current practices in synthesizing molecularly imprinted polymers face challenges-lengthy process, low-productivity, the need for expensive and sophisticated equipment, and they cannot be controlled in situ synthesis. Herein, we present a micro-reactor for in situ and continuously synthesizing trillions of molecularly imprinted polymeric nanoparticles that contain molecular fingerprints of bovine serum albumin in a short period of time (5-30 min). Initially, we performed COMSOL simulation to analyze mixing efficiency with altering flow rates, and experimentally validated the platform for synthesizing nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 52-106 nm. Molecular interactions between monomers and protein were also examined by molecular docking and dynamics simulations. Afterwards, we benchmarked the micro-reactor parameters through dispersity and concentration of molecularly imprinted polymers using principal component analysis. Sensing assets of molecularly imprinted polymers were examined on a metamaterial sensor, resulting in 81% of precision with high selectivity (4.5 times), and three cycles of consecutive use. Overall, our micro-reactor stood out for its high productivity (48-288 times improvement in assay-time and 2 times improvement in reagent volume), enabling to produce 1.4-1.5 times more MIPs at one-single step, and continuous production compared to conventional strategy.

NiCoP/g-C3N4 Nanocomposites-Based Electrochemical Immunosensor for Sensitive Detection of Procalcitonin

Herein, an ultra-sensitive and facile electrochemical biosensor for procalcitonin (PCT) detection was developed based on NiCoP/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites. Firstly, NiCoP/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites were synthesized using hydrothermal methods and then functionalized on the electrode surface by π-π stacking. Afterward, the monoclonal antibody that can specifically capture the PCT was successfully linked onto the surface of the nanocomposites with a 1-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) condensation reaction. Finally, the modified sensor was employed for the electrochemical analysis of PCT using differential Pulse Voltammetry(DPV). Notably, the larger surface area of g-C₃N₄ and the higher electron transfer capacity of NiCoP/g-C₃N₄ endow this sensor with a wider detection range (1 ag/mL to 10 ng/mL) and an ultra-low limit of detection (0.6 ag/mL, S/N = 3). In addition, this strategy was also successfully applied to the detection of PCT in the diluted human serum sample, demonstrating that the developed immunosensors have the potential for application in clinical testing.

Ultrasensitive Photoelectrochemical Immunoassay Strategy Based on Bi2S3/Ag2S for the Detection of the Inflammation Marker Procalcitonin

As an inflammatory marker, procalcitonin (PCT) is more representative than other traditional inflammatory markers. In this work, a highly efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor was constructed based on the photoactive material Bi₂S₃/Ag₂S to realize the sensitive detection of PCT. Bi₂S₃ was prepared by a hydrothermal method, and Ag₂S quantum dots were deposited on the ITO/Bi₂S₃ surface via in situ reduction. Bi₂S₃ is a kind of admirable photoelectric semiconductor nanomaterial on account of its moderate bandgap width and low binding rate of photogenerated electron holes, which can effectively convert light energy into electrical energy. Therefore, based on the energy level matching principle of Bi₂S₃ and Ag₂S, a labeled Bi₂S₃/Ag₂S PEC immunosensor was constructed, and the sensitive detection of PCT was successfully established. The linear detection range of the PEC immunosensor was 0.50 pg∙mL^-1 to 50 ng∙mL^-1, and the minimum detection limit was 0.18 pg∙mL^-1. Compared with the traditional PEC strategy, the proposed PEC immunosensor is simple, convenient, and has good anti-interference, sensitivity, and specificity, which could provide a meaningful theoretical basis and reference value for the clinical detection of PCT.

The prognostic value of procalcitonin in critically ill cases of systematic inflammatory response syndrome in dogs

Using markers for early diagnosis can help to reduce mortality and morbidity in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). This study investigates the role of procalcitonin (PCT) as a prognostic value in dogs with SIRS in the intensive care unit. Fifty-five dogs were selected and studied. Blood samples were collected and investigated for PCT, white and red blood cells, iron, creatinine, platelet, glucose, albumin, urea, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), bandcell, body temperature, and hospitalized days and costs. The animals were grouped into survivors and deceased groups, and their results were compared. The results showed negative significant relations between PCT with hematocrit (r ² = 0.294, P < 0.05) and the serum concentration of iron (r ² = 0.280, P < 0.05) and also positive relation with IL-6 (r ² = 0.456, P < 0.01) and TNF-α (r ² = 0.391, P < 0.01). Significant relations were not seen between PCT with other parameters (P > 0.05). The results also showed a significant relation between glucose and albumin with body temperature (P < 0.05). The results showed that the serum concentrations of PCT, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly higher in deceased dogs compared with survivors, while white blood cells, glucose, albumin, urea, lymphocyte, neutrophil, and body temperature were higher in survivors compared with others. PCT can be utilized as a prognostic value and helps early diagnosis in dogs with SIRS.

Molecularly imprinted polymers as effective capturing receptors in a pseudo-ELISA immunoassay for procalcitonin detection in veterinary species

In this study, a new sandwich-type immunoenzymatic assay, based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as an artificial antibody (pseudo-ELISA), was developed for the determination of procalcitonin (PCT) in veterinary species. The quantification of PCT in human medicine represents the state of the art for the diagnosis of sepsis; instead the clinical studies on the relevance of PCT as a sepsis predictor in veterinary patients are few, likely due to the total absence of validated assays. MIPs have been widely used as antibody mimics for important applications, and MIP-based sandwich assays have emerged as promising analytical tools for the detection of disease biomarkers. Herein, a polynorepinephrine (PNE)-based imprinted film was directly synthesized on the well surface of a 96-well plate. Subsequently, based on a commercial ELISA kit, the PCT quantification was accomplished via a colorimetric sandwich assay by replacing the capture antibody of the kit with the PNE-based MIP. This method was performed to detect canine and equine PCT in buffer and in plasma samples. Under optimal conditions, the results obtained in plasma samples showed a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.87 ng mL^-1 and a reproducibility (CV_av%) of 10.0% for canine samples, while a LOD = 4.46 ng mL^-1 and CV_av% = 7.61% were obtained for equine samples.

Construction of efficient electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer sensor based on SnO2/SnS2QDs-Ru@IRMOF-3 composite for sensitive detection of procalcitonin

An efficient electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) method is proposed which combines the luminescent materials of tris(4,4'-dicarboxylicacid-2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (energy donor) and tin dioxide and tin disulfide quantum dots (SnO₂/SnS₂QDs) (energy acceptor) into the isoreticular metal - organic framework-3 (IRMOF-3) material to form a composite. In this mode, the distance between the energy donor and the acceptor was greatly shortened, reducing the energy loss, and thereby effectively improving RET efficiency and further significantly improving the ECL signal. The obtained composite (SnO₂/SnS₂QDs-Ru@IRMOF-3) was combined with sandwich immunoreaction to construct an ECL immunosensor for the sensitive detection of procalcitonin (PCT). Under the optimized experimental conditions with a working potential of - 1.48 V (vs Ag/AgCl), the proposed PCT biosensor exhibited a linear concentration range of 1 × 10^-4-200 ng mL^-1, with a detection limit of 0.029 pg mL^-1 (S/N = 3). The biosensor was used to detect PCT in actual samples. The biosensor has broad application prospects in biological analysis and clinical diagnosis due to its high sensitivity, good selectivity, and good stability.

Imprinted biopolymers as green abiotic route in immunoglobulin affinity plasmonic sensing

The relentless research in material science is pushing towards sustainable building blocks, which may be exploited in the molecularly imprinting technology, a potentially ground-breaking tool for producing affinity mimetic receptors. In this scenario, we report and characterize a novel polynorepinephrine (PNE)-based mimetic for IgG detection, biomolecules of utmost clinical interest, coupled to a label-free and real-time sensing based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). A "molecular walk" around the Y-shaped IgG structure is performed to select small peptide portions to be used as templates during the epitope imprinting process. For real-time diagnosis, the mimetic receptor is integrated into SPR sensing platform, to directly target the IgG both in standard solutions and human serum specimens using the standard addition method. The designed platform is characterized in terms of binding kinetic/affinity parameters and analytical figures of merit, (selectivity, repeatability, limit of detection and quantification, namely 0.90 ± 0.02 μg mL^-1 and 3.01 ± 0.07 μg mL^-1, respectively), displaying excellent promising outcomes also when the material is subjected to thermal stress. Comprehensively, the excellent analytical performances of the MIP-based SPR sensing and the well-known versatility of such biopolymer encourage the further development of serological point-of-care testing for IgG antibodies detection.

Structurally Constrained MUC1-Tn Mimetic Antigen as Template for Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs): A Promising Tool for Cancer Diagnostics

Abnormal glycoconjugates have distinctly been recognized as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. A great deal of attention has been focused on Tn antigen, an oversimplified mucin-1 O-glycan, over-expressed in different cancers. Herein, we investigate the possibility to replace the use of anti-Tn monoclonal antibodies with an innovative class of catecholamine-based Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs), emerging in recent years as promising tools for bioanalytical applications. MIPs are synthetic receptors characterized by high sensitivity and specificity towards the imprinted target. Here, original polynorepinephrine-based MIPs coupled to Surface Plasmon Resonance biosensing for Tn antigen recognition are reported. We have verified the imprinting and binding capacity of these MIPs towards very small antigenic entities, represented by the natural Tn antigen and the TnThr mimetic 1 (conjugated to BSA or linked to a MUC1 hexapeptide analogue), and compared the biosensor performances with an anti-Tn monoclonal antibody. The results clearly display the effectiveness of the pursued imprinting strategies.

Development of enzyme/titanate nanosheet complex coated with molecularly imprinted polydopamine for colorimetric quercetin assay

A novel hybrid material, which is an enzyme/inorganic nanosheet complex coated by molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), was developed, and applied to colorimetric quercetin assay. First, an enzyme/inorganic nanosheet complex was prepared from horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme and titanate nanosheet (TiOx), using electrostatic interactions between them in acetate buffer. In the next place, dopamine self-polymerization was performed in the presence of HRP/TiOx complex with quercetin as a template, to prepare MIP membrane onto the HRP/TiOx complex. After washing process, a new hybrid material, MIP-coated HRP/TiOx complex (MIP-HT) was obtained. MIP-HT adsorbed quercetin efficiently, compared with NIP-HT that is an HRP/TiOx complex coated with non-imprinted polydopamine. MIP-HT showed enzymatic activity for an oxidation reaction of guaiacol, which is a chromogenic substrate of HRP, whereas the enzymatic activity of NIP-HT was significantly suppressed. The amount of brown product, formed by the color reaction, reduced owing to the presence of quercetin in sample solution, and a good liner relationship was observed between the concentration of quercetin and the increment of absorbance at 470 nm. The investigation using several biomolecules indicates that MIP-HT has the ability to detect quercetin and its analogues with selectivity. Therefore, MIP-HT shows great promise as a new and attractive material for use in colorimetric assay of quercetin or quercetin analogues.

A biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BELISA) for the analysis of gonadorelin by using molecularly imprinted polymer-coated microplates

An original biomimetic enzyme-linked immunoassay (BELISA) to target the small peptide hormone gonadorelin is presented. This peptide has been recently listed among the substances banned in sports by the World Antidoping Agency (WADA) since its misuse by male athletes triggers testosterone increase. Hence, in response to this emerging issue in anti-doping controls, we proposed BELISA which involves the growth of a polynorepinephrine (PNE)–based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) directly on microwells. PNE, a polydopamine (PDA) analog, has recently displayed impressive performances when it was exploited for MIP preparation, giving even better results than PDA. Gonadorelin quantification was accomplished via a colorimetric indirect competitive bioassay involving the competition between biotinylated gonadorelin linked to the signal reporter and the unlabeled analyte. These compete for the same MIP binding sites resulting in an inverse correlation between gonadorelin concentration and the output color signal (λ = 450 nm). A detection limit of 277 pmol L⁻¹ was achieved with very good reproducibility in standard solutions (_avCV% = 4.07%) and in urine samples (_avCV% = 5.24%). The selectivity of the assay resulted adequate for biological specimens and non-specific control peptides. In addition, the analytical figures of merit were successfully validated by mass spectrometry, the reference anti-doping benchtop platform for the analyte. BELISA was aimed to open real perspectives for PNE-based MIPs as alternatives to antibodies, especially when the target analyte is a poorly or non-immunogenic small molecule, such as gonadorelin.

Rapid FRET-based homogeneous immunoassay of procalcitonin using matched carbon dots labels

A novel method for the detection of procalcitonin in a homogeneous system by matched carbon dots (CDs) labeled immunoprobes was proposed based on the principle of FRET and double antibody sandwich method. Blue-emitting carbon dots with a strong fluorescence emission range of 400-550 nm and red-emitting carbon dots with the best excitation range of 410-550 nm were prepared before they reacted with procalcitonin protoclone antibody pairs to form immunoprobes. According to the principles of FRET, blue-emitting carbon dots were selected as the energy donor and red-emitting carbon dots as the energy receptor. The external light source excitation (310 nm) could only cause weak luminescence of CDs. However, once procalcitonin was added, procalcitonin and antibodies would be combined with each other quickly (≤20 min). Here, blue-emitting carbon dots acquired energy could be transferred to red-emitting carbon dots efficiently, causing the emitted fluorescence enhancement of red-emitting carbon dots. The fluorescence detection results in PBS buffer solution and diluted rabbit blood serum showed that the fluorescence intensity variation was linear with the concentration of procalcitonin. There was a good linear relationship betweenF/F0 and procalcitonin concentrations in PBS buffer solution that ranged from 0 to 100 ng ml^-1, and the linear equation wasF/F0 = 0.004 *C_pct + 0.98359. Detection in the diluted rabbit serum led to the results that were linear in two concentration ranges, including 0-40 ng ml^-1and 40-100 ng ml^-1, and the detection limit based on 3σK^-1was 0.52 ng ml^-1. It is likely that this matched CDs labeled immunoprobes system can provide a new mode for rapid homogeneous detection of disease markers.

Serum C1q Levels Have Prognostic Value for Sepsis and are Related to the Severity of Sepsis and Organ Damage

Objective

To explore the clinical application value of serum complement component C1q levels in sepsis.

Methods

The clinical data and laboratory examination data of 320 research subjects (including 132 cases as sepsis group, 93 cases as nonsepsis group and 95 cases as control group) who were diagnosed and treated in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from July 2020 to March 2021 were collected. We compared the levels of each index among the three groups and further analyzed the C1q levels of different severity subgroups and different outcome subgroups of sepsis. Afterwards, we explored the correlation between C1q levels and SOFA score, organ damage indexes and coagulation indexes. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to analyze the prognostic value of C1q in patients with sepsis.

Results

C1q levels were significantly reduced in the serum of patients with sepsis; the level of C1q in the death group was lower than that in the survival group (127.1 mg/L vs 153.2 mg/L, P < 0.05), and the mortality in the C1q decreased group was higher when compared with C1q normal group; in addition, serum C1q levels were correlated with SOFA score, organ damage indexes and coagulation indexes; C1q had a high area under the curve (AUC) for the prognosis of sepsis, and the combination of other indexes can further improve the prognostic value.

Conclusion

Serum C1q levels have potential clinical value for the condition and prognosis of sepsis.