Association of Plasma Levels of Fas Ligand with Severity and Outcome of Sepsis

Introduction: Levels of the apoptosis regulator Fas ligand (FasL) are associated with severity of sepsis, but its association with the mortality of sepsis and necroptosis, a regulated cell death mechanism, is not yet clear. We aimed to assess the association of FasL level with outcomes of sepsis and receptor interacting protein kinase-3 (RIPK3), an essential necroptosis mediator, for determining the relationship between FasL and necroptosis. Methods: Plasma FasL and RIPK3 levels were measured by ELISA from prospectively enrolled critically ill adult patients. The best cut-off level of FasL for 28-day mortality prediction was determined by Youden's index. The association between plasma levels of FasL and RIPK3 was assessed by a linear regression method. Results: Among 188 patients, 58 (30.9%) were diagnosed with sepsis and 84 (44.7%) with septic shock, respectively. Plasma levels of FasL increased in the group order of control, sepsis, and septic shock groups (P for trend < 0.001). For 142 patients with sepsis, organ dysfunction and septic shock were more prevalent in the group with plasma FasL levels that were higher than the best cut-off level. A significant difference in mortality between high and low FasL patients was observed up to 90 days (Log-rank P = 0.013). FasL levels did not significantly change over day 3 and day 7. FasL levels were not correlated with those of RIPK3. Conclusions: The plasma level of FasL was associated with severity of sepsis and was predictive of mortality. However, it was not correlated with RIPK3 level.

Automated summary

The study found that elevated levels of Fas ligand were associated with the severity and mortality of sepsis, but not correlated with RIPK3 levels.