Research Article Open Access

Circulating Granzymes are associated with Bloodstream Infection and Death in Febrile Medical Patients

Annelies N. Tacx1, Angela M. Wolbink1, C. E. Hack2 and A.B. Johan Groeneveld1
  • 1 Institute for Cardiovascular Research Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Netherlands Antilles
  • 2 Institute for Cardiovascular Research Vrije Universiteit Medical CenterQ, Netherlands Antilles

Abstract

Plasma levels of granzymes are specific markers for the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells but the impact of activation of these cells on the course of bacterial infections is not well understood. We prospectively studied the implications of circulating granzyme A and B (GrA, GrB) levels in febrile, medical and hospitalized patients (n=284), during 3 days after inclusion and related levels to lymphocyte counts, infection, sepsis, culture results, shock and infection-related 28-day mortality. Bloodstream infection occurred in 18% of the patients, 9% died within 28 days. Circulating GrA and GrB levels were elevated, at inclusion, in 98 and 55% of patients. The course of GrB predicted bloodstream infection whereas that of GrA predicted mortality, regardless of relative lymphocytopenia. Our data suggest harmful cytotoxic T and NK cell activation early in bacterial infection-related fever. They also point to an early but different pathogenic role of soluble GrA and GrB when fever is associated with mortality and bloodstream infection, respectively.

American Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 3 No. 1, 2007, 17-23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajidsp.2007.17.23

Submitted On: 16 April 2007 Published On: 31 March 2007

How to Cite: Tacx, A. N., Wolbink, A. M., Hack, C. E. & Groeneveld, A. J. (2007). Circulating Granzymes are associated with Bloodstream Infection and Death in Febrile Medical Patients. American Journal of Infectious Diseases, 3(1), 17-23. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajidsp.2007.17.23

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Keywords

  • Granzymes
  • sepsis
  • apoptosis
  • prognosis
  • fever in hospital