Existing Medicine’s Sepsis Breakthrough
- Nijmegen, Netherlands (April 18, 2025) – Researchers have found that an existing medication may help restore function to compromised immune cells, potentially offering a new avenue for treating...
- Sepsis,a life-threatening condition,contributes to 20% of deaths globally and is a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units.
- For years, the medical community believed that sepsis-related deaths were solely due to an overactive immune response.
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Nijmegen, Netherlands (April 18, 2025) – Researchers have found that an existing medication may help restore function to compromised immune cells, potentially offering a new avenue for treating sepsis. The findings, stemming from research at Radboudumc, suggest that interferon beta could counteract the immune system’s defense paralysis often seen in severe sepsis cases.
Sepsis,a life-threatening condition,contributes to 20% of deaths globally and is a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units. The condition arises when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection, leading to organ failure. Approximately one-third of patients admitted to intensive care with sepsis do not survive.
For years, the medical community believed that sepsis-related deaths were solely due to an overactive immune response. However, recent understanding acknowledges that a suppressed immune response, or defense paralysis, also contributes considerably to mortality. This paralysis leaves patients vulnerable to secondary infections, including fungal infections.
Understanding Immune Response in Sepsis
Researchers worldwide are focused on understanding and adjusting the disrupted immune response in sepsis patients. A team at Radboudumc’s intensive care unit is studying the immune responses of healthy volunteers. By injecting endotoxins, or dead bacteria fragments, they induce a controlled immune response. Advanced technologies allow them to monitor the immune system’s changes during both the acute inflammatory phase and the subsequent paralysis phase.
Farid Keramati,the study’s first author,analyzed immune cells from blood and bone marrow samples. The research revealed that monocytes, a type of immune cell, exhibit impaired function following the acute immune response, contributing to defense paralysis. these monocytes are crucial for fighting infections.
Keramati, who was with the Princess Máxima Center during the research, stated, “This extensive analysis gave us a better understanding of what happens in an immune response. That gave us starting points for possible treatments with which we can tackle the reduced defense of the body against infections.”
Interferon Beta’s Impact on Immune Cells
The researchers then introduced interferon beta, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), to the monocytes in the lab. In MS, the immune system malfunctions, causing inflammation in the central nervous system. The interferon beta had a positive effect, revitalizing the paralyzed monocytes and improving their function.
Next steps: Investigating Defense paralysis
Lead researcher Matthijs Kox emphasized the need for further inquiry. “We have now only investigated the functioning of Interferon Bèta in the laboratory on cells. The next step is that we give healthy participants this medicine in the late phase after administration of endotoxins. We want to investigate whether we can prevent the defense paralysis,” Kox saeid.
future research may involve testing interferon beta on monocytes from sepsis patients in the ICU to determine if it improves their function. “If so, we may have something in our hands with which we can definitely help these patients,” Kox added.
Publication Details
The findings were published in Nature Immunology: Systemic inflammation impairs myelopoiesis and interferon type I responses in humans by Fed Keramati,Guuse P. Lejes, Niles Bruse, and others. DOI: 10.1038/S41590-025-02136-4.
# Interferon Beta and Sepsis: A Q&A
## What is Sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection. This overreaction can lead to organ failure. sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units.
## How Common is Sepsis?
According to the provided article, sepsis contributes to 20% of deaths globally. Approximately one-third of patients admitted to intensive care with sepsis do not survive.
## What Has Been the Traditional Understanding of Sepsis?
For years, the medical community believed that sepsis-related deaths were primarily due to an overactive immune response.
## What is “Defense Paralysis” in the Context of Sepsis?
Recent understanding acknowledges that a *suppressed* immune response, or “defense paralysis,” also considerably contributes to mortality in sepsis cases. This paralysis leaves patients vulnerable to secondary infections, including fungal infections.
## What is Radboudumc’s Research on Sepsis?
Researchers at Radboudumc are studying the immune responses in sepsis to understand and address the disrupted immune response in these patients. They are studying the immune responses of healthy volunteers by injecting endotoxins (dead bacteria fragments) to induce a controlled immune response. They use advanced technologies to monitor the immune system’s changes during both the acute inflammatory phase and the subsequent paralysis phase.
## What Specific Immune Cells Are Being Studied?
The research at Radboudumc focuses on monocytes, a type of immune cell crucial for fighting infections.
## What Did the Radboudumc Research Reveal About Monocytes?
The research revealed that monocytes exhibit impaired function following the acute immune response,contributing to defense paralysis.
## What is Interferon Beta and How is it Related to Sepsis Research?
interferon beta is a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers introduced this medication in the lab to monocytes to see if it coudl improve their function in cases of sepsis-related defense paralysis.
## What Effect Did Interferon Beta Have on the Monocytes?
In the lab, interferon beta had a positive effect, revitalizing the paralyzed monocytes and improving their function.
## What Are the Next steps in This Research?
The next step involves giving healthy participants interferon beta in the late phase after administration of endotoxins to investigate whether they can prevent the defense paralysis.Future research may also involve testing interferon beta on monocytes from sepsis patients in the ICU to determine if it improves their function.
## What are the Potential Implications of This Research?
If interferon beta can improve monocyte function in sepsis patients, it could perhaps offer a new avenue for treating sepsis and improving patient outcomes.
## Where Was the research Published?
The findings were published in *Nature Immunology*.
## Key findings summary
Here’s a table summarizing the key takeaways from the research:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Problem | Sepsis-related immune paralysis. |
| Affected Immune Cells | Monocytes. |
| Treatment Examined | Interferon Beta. |
| Observed Effect | Revitalization and improved function of monocytes in the lab. |
| Next Steps | Clinical trials on healthy participants and potential trials on ICU patients. |
| Potential Outcome | New treatment for sepsis, potentially improving patient outcomes. |