Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, remains a major cause of mortality worldwide. Identifying reliable biomarkers for prognosis and treatment is urgently needed. This study investigates the role of the Apoptosis Inhibitor of Macrophages (AIM), also known as CD5L, as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in sepsis. Methods We measured free and total AIM concentrations in 90 septic patients enrolled in SepsisDataNet.NRW cohort (German Clinical Trial Registry No. DRKS00018871; http://www.sepsisdatanet.nrw ). Blood samples were collected on days 1, 4, and 8, and AIM levels were quantified using ELISA. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression were performed to assess the association between AIM levels and 30-day survival. Western blot analysis was performed to detect AIM in human serum IgM and in the IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin IVIG preparation Pentaglobin ® . Results High total AIM concentrations (>85 ng/ml) were significantly associated with improved 30-day survival on day 1 (HR: 3.131, 95% CI: 1.629-6.019, p = 0.009), 4 (HR: 2.525, 95% CI: 1.198-5.322, p = 0.0042), and day 8 (HR: 2.317, 95% CI: 0.8565-6.266, p = 0.0457). Free AIM showed a significant association with survival only on day 8 (HR: 2.374, 95% CI: 0.8721-6.461, p = 0.0393). Conclusion Total AIM concentration is a significant predictor of a 30-day survival in sepsis, supporting its potential use as a prognostic biomarker. Our findings also suggest that AIM may serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker and a potential target for immune-modulating therapies, including IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs).
Source: Frontiers in Immunology
Authors: Birte Dyck, Ulrich Bosch dos Santos, Corinna Müller, Hartmuth Nowak, Tim Rahmel, Lars Palmowski, Matthias Unterberg, Alexander Wolf, Alexander von Busch, Andrea Witowski, Britta Westhus, Barbara Sitek, Katharina Rump, Christian Putensen, Stefan Felix Ehrentraut, Alexander Zarbock, Dietrich Henzler, Nina Babel, Martin Eisenacher, Katrin Marcus, Björn Ellger, Björn Koos, Michael Adamzik, Dominik Ziehe, Lars Bergmann
Institutions: University Hospitals of the Ruhr-University of Bochum, Universitätsklinikum Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, LWL-Universitätsklinikum Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Biotest (Germany), University Hospital Bonn, University of Münster, University Hospital Münster, Herford Hospital, Universitätsklinik Marien Hospital Herne, Klinikum Westfalen (Germany)
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4415839453