Increased concentrations of C-reactive protein but not high-mobility group box 1 in dogs with naturally occurring sepsis

Abstract

Sepsis is difficult to diagnose and remains a common mortality cause worldwide in both humans and animals. The uterine infection pyometra causes sepsis in more than half of affected dogs and therefore allows the natural physiological development of sepsis to be studied. To find a sepsis-specific biochemical marker that could be combined with conventional clinical criteria for a more robust and quick diagnosis of sepsis, we measured systemic concentrations of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in 23 healthy control dogs and in 27 dogs with pyometra, 74% of which had sepsis. We also measured concentrations of the major acute phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) and an indicator for endotoxaemia, prostaglandin F-2 alpha metabolite (PGM) to assess the relative contribution of HMGB1 to the detection of systemic inflammation and endotoxaemia. We found that HMGB1 concentrations, in line with concentrations of CRP and PGM, were significantly increased in dogs with pyometra, and that concentrations of CRP, but not HMGB1, were significantly higher in dogs with sepsis compared to dogs without sepsis. Although serum HMGB1 did not differ between dogs with or without sepsis and was not correlated with either CRP or PGM concentrations, HMGB1 was correlated with the total white blood cell counts, suggesting an independent regulation and involvement in inflammation. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Sepsis; SIRS; Biomarkers; Diagnostics; Cytokines; Canine/dog; Pyometra; Bacterial uterine infection; Inflammation; HMGB1; CRP; PGM

Published in

Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
2013, volume: 156, number: 1-2, pages: 64-72
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Karlsson, Iulia

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Wernersson, Sara

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ambrosen, Aime

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Kindahl, Hans

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Södersten, Fredrik

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Wang, Liya

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hagman, Ragnvi

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Immunology
Infectious Medicine
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2013.09.011

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/53374