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Intensive Care Medicine pp 22–31Cite as

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Hormokines as Biomarkers in Severe Infections

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Abstract

The term “hormokine” was proposed to encompass the cytokine-like behavior of hormones, during inflammation and infections [1]. The concept was based on the finding of a ubiquitous expression of calcitonin peptides (i.e., procalcitonin [PCT], calictonin gene related peptides (CGRPs), and adrenomedullin [ADM]) during sepsis. Calcitonin gene products are prototypes of hormokine mediators and can follow either a classical hormonal expression in neuro-endocrine cells or a cytokine-like ubiquitous expression pathway in various cell types [1]. The inflammatory release of hormokines can be induced either directly via microbial toxins (e.g., endotoxin) or indirectly via a humoral or cell-mediated host response (e.g., interleukin [IL]-1β, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-6). Parenchymal cells (including liver, kidney, adipocytes, and muscle) provide the largest tissue mass and principal source of circulating hormokines in sepsis [2]. The greater mRNA induction and peptide release from parenchymal cells in comparison to circulating cells, appears to indicate a tissue-based, rather than a leukocyte-based mechanism of host defense, which is characteristic of hormokines. Lowering of circulating hormokines by specific antibodies improves survival in various animal models of mono- and polymicrobial sepsis. This important finding suggests potential therapeutic use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    M. Christ-Crain & B. Müller

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  1. M. Christ-Crain
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  2. B. Müller
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care Erasme Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Route de Lennik 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Louis Vincent MD, PhD, FCCM, FCCP (Head) (Head)

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Christ-Crain, M., Müller, B. (2007). Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Hormokines as Biomarkers in Severe Infections. In: Vincent, JL. (eds) Intensive Care Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-49518-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-49518-7_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-49517-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-49518-7

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