Effect of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Sepsis and Septic Shock
Condition: Sepsis; Septic Shock
MeSH terms: Sepsis; Toxemia; Shock, Septic; Shock
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2

Summary: 
      Methods:Ten patients were enrolled in the study. Adipose derived-MSCs infusions were given
      (1x 106/ kg, on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th days of therapy) together with Standard therapy.
      Before the MSCs applications, blood samples were collected for cytokine assessment (TNF-α,
      IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10). The clinical and laboratory improvements were recorded and
      compared with control groups selected retrospectively.
    

Detailed description: 
      Study Design and Setting The study was carried out at the Internal Medicine Intensive Care
      Unit (IMICU) and Anesthesiology and Reanimation Intensive Care Unit (ARICU) at Erciyes
      University Hospital which is a referral hospital in the Central Anatolia. The study was
      approved by the Erciyes University Ethics Board (2016/114; Date: 19.02.2016) and Ministry of
      Health of Turkey. Informed consent from surrogate decision-makers was taken for study
      participation after confirmation of eligibility criteria.

      Patients The study was planned as prospectively. During two years, 10 patients with sepsis
      and septic shock were included in the study from IMICU and ARICU. Sepsis and septic shock
      were diagnosed according to the sepsis guidelines [1]. Inclusion criteria for this study
      were; patients who were between 18-80 years of age and were hospitalized at IMICU and ARICU
      with the diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock. Exclusion criteria were categorized that
      patients who were younger than 18-year-old and older than 80 years and were pregnant women or
      breast-feeding; patients who had terminal stage of cancer, advanced pulmonary disease
      receiving oxygen at home, advanced pulmonary hypertension (WHO Class III or IV), advanced
      heart failure (American Heart Association Class III or IV), severe liver disease (Child C),
      and history of anaphylaxis. Standard therapy of sepsis as suggested in the guidelines [1,2]
      were given to all patients and additionally MSCs treatment was applied to the patients in the
      study group. Control patients diagnosed sepsis and septic shock and having similar
      characteristics for the consideration of severity of disease based on APACHE II score and
      co-morbid diseases with study group were selected from IMICU and ARICU records
      retrospectively.

      Patients' demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, clinical and laboratory outcomes
      were recorded.

      Source and Application of MSCs MSCs were prepared in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
      Laboratory of Genome and Stem Cell Center at Erciyes University. Cell production and quality
      control assessment procedures were carried out according to GMP protocols authorized by the
      Ministry of Health of Turkey. Allogenic adipose derived MSCs (ADMSCs) which were obtained
      from a healthy donor were applied to all patients in the study group. Five doses of ADMSCs
      were applied to the patients at 1st and 3rd day (post-thawed of frozen MSCs cryo-bag),
      5th-7th and 9th day (re-plated ADMSCs vials) of therapy. Each dose of ADMSCs was prepared as
      1 x 106 ADMSCs/kg. The vials containing ADMSCs were mixed with gentle motions before the
      usage; thus, it ensured product homogenization. ADMSCs were infused intravenously via central
      venous line in a physiological saline solution by using a blood transfusion set. The patients
      were monitored during all these procedures.

      Preparation of ADMSCs Sufficient cryo-preserved ADMSCs vials were thawed to provide the
      required dose for administration. The frozen ADMSCs were thawed and cultured in the
      Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) containing 10% human serum, 1% Penicillin-
      Streptomycin solution, and 1% stable glutamine (Biological Industries, Kibbutz Beit Haemek,
      Israel) at 37°C and 5% CO2 incubator which described before [16]. Briefly, ADMSCs were
      recovered and resuspended in physiological saline solution and transferred to the patient
      with the temperature-controlled bag. The morphology of cell appearance and the viability were
      assessed beside the identification of phenotypic characteristics of the cells and
      microbiological tests. Immunophenotyping characterization of ADMSCs was performed by using
      flow cytometry analyses (Beckman Coulter, USA) with antibodies against CD45, CD73, CD90,
      CD105, CD11b, CD19, CD34, CD44 (BD Stem Flow hMSC kit).

      Cytokine Analysis Ten ml peripheral venous blood samples were collected before each MSCs
      infusion at 1st, 3rd,5th, 7thand 9th day of therapy. The serum samples were centrifuged at
      5000 rpm for 5 minutes and stored at - 80°C until laboratory analysis. Cytokine level was
      analyzed with ELISA method by using Human BioSource for (TNF-, IFN- γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10)
      kits in Robonik Read Well Touch model (Robonik India Pvt Ltd) device.

      Clinical and Laboratory Follow-up Clinical findings and laboratory results were recorded at
      the administration of MSCs infusions at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th days. Patients'
      demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, clinical and laboratory outcomes were
      recorded. The patients were monitored for unexpected adverse events. In the clinical
      follow-up of the patients APACHE II, SOFA (the sequential organ failure assessment score)
      score, clinical progression and outcome of patients were recorded. As laboratory following,
      inflammatory markers; C reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and white blood cell
      (WBC), bleeding parameters (platelets, INR, fibrinogen), lactate, liver enzymes (AST, ALT),
      renal functions (creatinine) were also recorded. Laboratory test results were analyzed
      according to MSCs administration days. The differences of the laboratory tests were compared
      between the survivor and non-survivor patients according to MSCs therapy days.

      Outcomes of the patients were compared with the previous observational study conducted in the
      same Intensive Care Units (ICUs) as control. The day of death and 0-6th, 7-14th, and 15-28th
      days were determined as survival status and endpoint. In case of death, the date and cause of
      death were also recorded.

      Statistical Analysis In the study, the results were compared to controls. Statistical
      analysis was performed using Turcosa software. The relationships between categorical
      variables were analyzed by chi-square analysis. When parametric assumptions were provided in
      comparison of numerical variables in two groups, the Student-T test was used and the Mann
      Whitney U test was in the case that the parametric assumptions did not provide. For the
      analysis of repeated measurements; Paired Sample T-Test was used for binary comparisons and
      the Repeated Measures ANOVA test was used for comparison of more than two repeated
      measurements. The survival probability of the patients during the follow-up period was
      determined by Kaplan-Maier survival analysis. The effect of age and APACHE II to co-variants
      analysis were adjusted. p <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.
    

Intervention name(s): Mesenchymal stem cells
Intervention type(s): Biological
Intervention description(s): Standard therapy of sepsis as suggested in the guidelines were given to all patients and additionally MSCs treatment was applied to the patients in the study group.
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: stem cells; sepsis; septic shock