Hepcidin: a Prognostic Marker of Morbidity and Mortality in Severe Sepsis?

Many biomarkers have been evaluated in sepsis, especially for prognostic purposes, but none has yet been shown to have sufficient sensitivity or specificity for routine use in clinical practice. However, highlighting a biomarker facilitating the evaluation of the severity of sepsis remains relevant in a pathology where survival is largely conditioned by the initiation of an early and adapted treatment. Recent evidence suggests that hepcidin, which is the key hormone for systemic regulation of iron metabolism, may be an interesting prognostic biomarker. The synthesis of this peptide is regulated by the iron stocks of the body, erythropoiesis, but also inflammation. The mechanisms inducing the expression of hepcidin during inflammation are multiple: interleukin-6 (IL-6) in particular, pro-inflammatory cytokine is a strong inducer of hepcidin. In addition, its expression is increased by the effect of lipopolysaccharide via Toll-like receptors . In septic patients, elevated levels of hepcidin or pro-hepcidin have been reported . A new role for hepcidin in the control of inflammatory and / or immune response has recently been reported. Thus, in a model of murine septic shock, the deleterious character of a lack of expression of hepcidin could be demonstrated . In humans, hepcidinemia has been shown to be a predictive factor in the development of immunotolerance in hepatic transplant patients. Hepcidin therefore plays a major role in the regulation of the inflammatory and / or immune response and in particular during sepsis. The investigators therefore hypothesize that hepcidin could be the marker of an adverse prognosis in septic patients expressing this