Study of Monocyte Subsets and Their Surface Expression of CD86 and Serum IL-17 Compared to Serum Procalcitonin as Markers of Early Neonatal Sepsis

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal sepsis can quickly progress to multi-organ failure with high morbidity and mortality, making early diagnosis mandatory. Although being the gold standard, the long duration of blood culture may lead to hazardous neonatal complications. Sepsis activates monocytes and changes their subset distribution with the resultant activation of lymphocytes and adaptive immune cells changing the plasma cytokines levels. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Percentages of monocytes subsets, pattern of monocytes surface CD86 expression and serum IL-17 compared to serum procalcitonin were measured in 30 neonates with early sepsis and compared with age and sex matched 30 apparently health neonates as a control group. RESULTS: Gestational age, neonatal weight and hemoglobin concentration were significantly low in septic neonates vs the control group. Percentages of intermediate, nonclassical and CD86 positive monocytes, the mean fluorescence intensity of CD16 on CD16 positive monocytes, and serum levels of CRP, IL-17 and procalcitonin were significantly increased in septic neonates compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Early neonatal sepsis was associated with increasing the percentage of CD86 positive monocytes. Serum IL-17 levels were positively correlated with increased serum procalcitonin.