T cell depletion and functional impairment are characteristics of sepsis. CD137 is a costimulatory receptor on activated T cells, while soluble CD137 (sCD137) inhibits CD137 signaling. This study found elevated sCD137 levels in the plasma of patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, or septic shock compared to healthy controls. The sCD137 levels negatively correlated with the C-reactive protein and positively with procalcitonin and interleukin-6. There was no difference in sCD137 levels based on ventilation, dialysis, or vasopressor treatment. Patients with SARS-CoV-2, Gram-positive, or Gram-negative bacterial infections had similar sCD137 levels as noninfected individuals. Notably, higher plasma sCD137 levels were observed in non-survivors compared to survivors in both the SIRS/sepsis group and the SARS-CoV-2 subgroup. In conclusion, plasma sCD137 levels are associated with severe illness and survival in critically ill patients.
Keywords: COVID-19; bacterial infection; sCD137; sepsis; survival.