Antimicrobial peptide LL37 and regulatory T cell associated with late-onset sepsis in very preterm infants

• Published in: iScience Vol. 27; no. 5; p. 109780
• Main Authors: Zhuxiao, Ren, Shuo, Yang, Jiangxue, Han, Jingjun, Pei, Qi, Zhang, Zhu, Wang, Fang, Xu, Jie, Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 17-05-2024
• Subjects: Cell biology; Health sciences; Immunology; Stem cells research; Cell biology; Health sciences; Immunology; Stem cells research
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109780

Stem cell therapy may prevent late-onset sepsis (LOS) via antimicrobial peptide LL37 secretion and regulatory T cell (Treg) regulation. The early prediction of LOS is still a challenge. This study evaluated whether immunological state of LL37 or Tregs precedes LOS. We firstly analyzed the LL37 level, Treg proportion, and LOS incidence in very preterm infants treated with autologous cord blood mononuclear cells (ACBMNCs) in our previous trial. Then, we constructed a prediction model and built validation cohort. We found ACBMNC intervention reduced the incidence of LOS from 27.3% to 6.9% (p = 0.021). LL37 and Treg abundances were higher in the ACBMNCs group. The nomogram demonstrated that early-life Treg and LL37 characteristics were closely associated with LOS (area under the curve, AUC 0.936), with implications for early prediction and timely clinical management. This composite model was also helpful to evaluate the beneficial effect of ACBMNCs intervention on LOS, thus promoting translational research.
[Display omitted]
•The early prediction of late-onset sepsis in very preterm infants is a challenge•Autologous cord blood mononuclear cells therapy reduced late-onset sepsis•Cord blood mononuclear cells infusion improved LL37 level and Treg in preterm infants•Early-life LL37 level and Treg predicted late-onset sepsis in very preterm infants
Health sciences; Immunology; Cell biology; Stem cells research