Angiopoietin-2 is increased in septic shock: Evidence for the existence of a circulating factor stimulating its release from human monocytes

We aimed to investigate if angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) participates in the septic process and what may be the role of monocytes as a site of release of Ang-2 in sepsis. Concentrations of Ang-2 were estimated in sera and in supernatants of monocytes derived form one already described cohort of 90 patients with septic syndrome due to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Mononuclear cells of 17 healthy volunteers were stimulated by serum of patients in the presence or absence of various intracellular pathway inhibitors. Ang-2 gene expression after stimulation was also tested. Ang-2 was higher in patients with septic shock compared to patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and controls. Ang-2 was significantly increased in non-survivors compared with survivors. Serum levels greater than 9700 pg/ml were accompanied by a 3.254 odds ratio for death (p: 0.033). Ang-2 release from monocytes of septic patients was slightly decreased after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli O55:B5. Release of Ang-2 from healthy mononuclear cells was stimulated by serum of patients with shock but not by serum of non-shocked patients (p: 0.016). Release was decreased by LPS; increased in the presence of a TLR4 antagonist; and decreased by anti-TNF antibody. RNA transcripts of PBMCs after stimulation with serum of patients with septic shock were higher than those after LPS stimulation. It is concluded that Ang-2 is increased in serum in the event of septic shock and that its increase is related to unfavorable outcome. It seems that a circulating factor may exist in the serum of patients with septic shock that stimulates gene expression and subsequent release of Ang-2 from monocytes. TLR4 and TNFα modulate release of Ang-2.