Co-Expression Analysis of the ZDHHC19 Palmitoyltransferase-miR-4733-miR-596 Putative Regulatory Axis in Sepsis.

: ZDHHC19-a protein acyltransferase-is known to be induced in sepsis, a dysregulated immune response to infection, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we aimed to explore whether upregulation of is modulated by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting the binding of microRNA in the 3' untranslated region of the gene. : Inpatients with clinically verified severe infection ( = 83) or sepsis ( = 63) were recruited to the study. Genomic DNA and total RNA were prepared from buccal and peripheral blood samples, respectively. Genotyping of rs112579116 and rs2293161 SNPs was performed by TaqMan real-time PCR assays, while mRNA as well as miR-4733 and -596 microRNA levels were quantitated by reverse transcription qPCR. Correlations between genotypes, expression levels and clinical parameters were assessed by the Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney and t-tests. : Transcript levels of were significantly enhanced in septic blood samples ( = 0.0000709) and associated with clinical parameters such as procalcitonin levels, blood cell counts and clotting factors. Levels of both miRNAs showed an inverse but not significant correlation with those of ZDHHC19. : Expression of ZDHHC19 should be considered a reliable molecular marker of sepsis, but further investigations are needed to shed light on regulatory mechanisms involved.