FUNCTION OF SOLUBLE CD14 IN SERUM FROM PATIENTS WITH SEPTIC SHOCK

Soluble CD14 (sCD14) mediates lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation of e pithelial cells in vitro and may thereby be harmful in sepsis, sCD14 f unction was analyzed in sera from 62 patients with septic shock and co mpared with data from appropriate controls. sCD14 function was measure d as sCD14-dependent LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-8 release in the SW6 20 epithelial cell line. In these cells, IL-8 production correlated wi th LPS concentration and the amount of sCD14, The effect of natural or recombinant sCD14 was maximal at 100 ng/mL and blocked by anti-CD14 a ntibodies, Patient and control sera (0.5% final concentration) promote d induction of IL-8 by 100 ng/mL LPS in SW620 cells. In sepsis patient s (highest serum sCD14), values were significantly higher than in the other groups. The LPS-induced IL-8 response was blocked by anti-CD14 a nd correlated with the serum CD14 level in sepsis patients. Thus, sCD1 4 could play a pathogenetic role in sepsis.