PurposeDanger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released of trauma could contribute to an immune suppressed state that renders patients vulnerable towards nosocomial infections. We investigated DAMP release in trauma patients, starting in the prehospital phase, and assessed its relationship with immune suppression and nosocomial infections.MethodsBlood was obtained from 166 adult trauma patients at the trauma scene, emergency room (ER), and serially afterwards. Circulating levels of DAMPs and cytokines were determined. Immune suppression was investigated by determination of HLA-DRA gene expression and ex vivo lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cytokine production.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, plasma levels of nuclear DNA (nDNA) and heat shock protein-70 (HSP70) but not mitochondrial DNA were profoundly increased immediately following trauma and remained elevated for 10 days. Plasma cytokines were increased at the ER, and levels of anti-inflammatory IL-10 but not of pro-inflammatory cytokines peaked at this early time-point. HLA-DRA expression was attenuated directly after trauma and did not recover during the follow-up period. Plasma nDNA (r = −0.24, p = 0.006) and HSP70 (r = −0.38, p < 0.0001) levels correlated negatively with HLA-DRA expression. Ex vivo cytokine production revealed an anti-inflammatory phenotype already at the trauma scene which persisted in the following days, characterized by attenuated TNF-α and IL-6, and increased IL-10 production. Finally, higher concentrations of nDNA and a further decrease of HLA-DRA expression were associated with infections.ConclusionsPlasma levels of DAMPs are associated with immune suppression, which is apparent within minutes/hours following trauma. Furthermore, aggravated immune suppression during the initial phase following trauma is associated with increased susceptibility towards infections.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00134-015-4205-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Hypercalciuria increases the risk for urolithiasis, but renal adaptive mechanisms reduce this risk. , which is crucial to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Objective. Rituximab has been shown to be successful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and this unexpected finding indicates that B cells have an important role in this disease. The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism of action of rituximab in RA.Methods. Twelve patients with active RA were treated with rituximab. Disease activity was evaluated using the 28-joint Disease Activity Score. Synovial biopsy samples obtained at baseline and 12 weeks after treatment initiation were analyzed by microarray, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers and from 4 patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia were stimulated with the Th17-inducing stimulus Candida albicans, and the response in the presence and absence of rituximab was examined.Results. In RA patients, rituximab reduced expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor ␥t

Our findings indicate a relationship between plasma nDNA levels and the inflammatory response. Furthermore, nDNA levels are associated with markers of shock and organ damage in septic shock patients. Nevertheless, the correlations found are relatively weak and it remains to be determined whether nDNA is merely a marker or directly involved in the pathophysiology of septic shock.

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