Immune-cell Membrane Trafficking
Immune-cell Membrane Trafficking
Organ failure following trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It appears that
 the development of organ failure is a direct result of an altered immune response. This
 altered response results in the production of circulating factors in the blood that causes
 direct injury to the injured patients' organs. The mechanism in which this altered immune
 response occurs is unknown. Based on work we have performed in our laboratory, we believe
 that this response is initiated on the cell membrane of particular immune cells known as
 macrophages. Although the cell membrane may appear uniform, it is not. The membrane is
 composed of specific segments that allow proteins to associate with each other forming
 receptors that are required for immune cell activation. These specific membrane components
 are composed of various lipids and cholesterol, and have been termed lipid rafts. Based on
 our laboratory work it appears that these lipid rafts can be altered following injury. In
 particular both the lipid and protein content within these raft segments may be altered
 allowing immune cells to become active leading to the production of factors that directly
 injure normal cells and organs. Thus, we plan to examine if these laboratory findings can be
 seen in patients suffering from trauma who develop clinical organ failure at Harborview
 Medical Center. If this is accomplished, this data will lead to the development of both
 prognostic and therapeutic interventions for the optimal care of injured patient
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  age 18 years or older, blunt or penetrating trauma and

 -  one or more of the following: systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg at the scene
 or within one hour of arrival to the Emergency Department, 2) base deficit ≥ -6 within
 one hour of admission, 3) ISS greater than 25, or 4) more than 6 units of blood
 transfused in the first 12 hours.-

 Exclusion Criteria: