Extracellular heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) levels in children with septic shock.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

Recent data suggest that extracellular Hsp60 modulates the host innate immune response. We analyzed plasma Hsp60 levels in children admitted to a level III tertiary care PICU with septic shock.

MATERIALS AND SUBJECTS

Blood samples were obtained from children meeting criteria for septic shock (n = 63), critically ill children without septic shock (n = 10), and healthy controls (n = 24).

TREATMENT

Not applicable.

METHODS

Hsp60 levels were measured in the plasma using a commercially available ELISA. Differences between groups were analyzed with a Kruskal-Wallis one way ANOVA due to the non-parametric nature of the data. A p value < or = 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Extracellular Hsp60 levels were significantly higher in children with septic shock (median, 16.7 ng/mL) compared to both critically ill children without septic shock (median, 0 ng/mL) and healthy controls (median, 0 ng/mL, p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Extracellular Hsp60 levels are significantly elevated in children with septic shock compared with both healthy controls and critically ill children without sepsis. Extracellular Hsp60 may play a role in the pathogenesis of sepsis in children.