A High Level of Soluble CD40L Is Associated with P. aeruginosa Infection in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Blood Platelets in Infection: The Multiple Roles of the Platelet Signalling Machinery

Platelets are classically recognized for their important role in hemostasis and thrombosis but they are also involved in many other physiological and pathophysiological processes, including infection. Platelets are among the first cells recruited to sites of inflammation and infection and they exert their antimicrobial response actively cooperating with the immune system. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on platelet receptor interaction with different types of pathogens and the consequent modulations of innate and adaptive immune responses.

Serum CD40L, ST2, IL-6, and CRP serving as biomarkers for acute coronary syndrome

To analyze the diagnostic value of CD40 ligand (CD40L), soluble growth stimulating expression gene 2 protein (ST2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are used in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Serum samples were collected from 259 ACS patients admitted to our hospital. Additionally, 119 healthy individuals who received physical examination in the hospital at the same time period were included as normal control. The levels of CD40L, ST2, IL-6, and CRP in 259 patients with ACS and 119 healthy subjects were detected by ELISA. The levels of CD40L, ST2, IL-6, and CRP were significantly increased in unstable angina (UA) patients, while ST2, CRP, and IL-6 were significantly elevated in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Pearson correlation analysis showed that ST2 was also closely related to CRP in ACS patients, while ST2 was positively correlated with creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), and troponin I (cTnI) in AMI patients. The levels of glucose (GLU) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) were significantly decreased, while the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were significantly increased in AMI patients treated with stent implantation. Furthermore, the level of serum CD40 L was significantly elevated in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients treated with stent implantation, while the levels of ST2 and IL-6 in AMI patients treated with the stent implantation decreased significantly. The levels of inflammatory factors significantly changed in patients with ACS. These inflammatory factors may involve in the pathological progression of ACS and can be used as diagnostic indexes for ACS.