Background: Uncontrolled proteolysis contributes to cell injury and organ dysfunction in animal models of circulatory shock. We investigated in humans the relationship between septic shock, proteolysis, and outcome. Methods: Intensive care patients with septic shock (n¼29) or sepsis (n¼6) and non-hospitalised subjects (n¼9) were recruited as part of the prospective observational trial 'ShockOmics' (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02141607). A mass spectrometry-based approach was used to analyse the plasma peptidomes and the origin of circulating peptides from proteolysis in the enrolled subjects. Results: Evidence of systemic proteolysis was indicated by a larger number of circulating peptides in septic shock patients, compared with septic patients and non-hospitalised healthy subjects. The peptide count and abundance in the septic shock patients were greater in patients who died (n¼6) than in survivors (n¼23), suggesting an association between magnitude of proteolysis and outcome. In silico analysis of the peptide sequences and of the sites of cleavage on the proteins of origin indicated a predominant role for serine proteases, such as chymotrypsin, and matrix metalloproteases in causing the observed proteolytic degradation. Conclusions: Systemic proteolysis is a novel fundamental pathological mechanism in septic shock. Plasma peptidomics is proposed as a new tool to monitor clinical trajectory in septic shock patients. Clinical trial registration: NCT02141607.

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