Abstract
Background: Sepsis-associated brain injury is associated with deterioration of mental status, persistent cognitive impairment, and morbidity. The SUR1/TRPM4 channel is a nonselective cation channel that is transcriptionally upregulated in the central nervous system with injury, allowing sodium influx, depolarization, cellular swelling, and secondary injury. We hypothesized that genetic variation in ABCC8 (SUR1 gene) and TRPM4 would associate with central nervous system dysfunction in severe pediatric sepsis. Methods: 326 children with severe sepsis underwent whole exome sequencing in an observational cohort. We compared children with and without central nervous system dysfunction (Glasgow Coma Scale <12) to assess for associations with clinical characteristics and pooled rare variants in ABCC8 and TRPM4. Sites of variation were mapped onto protein structure and assessed for phenotypic impact. Results: Pooled rare variants in either ABCC8 or TRPM4 associated with decreased odds of central nervous system dysfunction in severe pediatric sepsis (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.003-0.87), P = 0.025). This association persisted following adjustment for race, organ failure, viral infection, and continuous renal replacement therapy (aOR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01-0.59, P = 0.038). Structural mapping showed that rare variants concentrated in the nucleotide-binding domains of ABCC8 and N-terminal melastatin homology region of TRPM4 . Conclusion : This study suggests a role for the ABCC8/TRPM4 channel in central nervous system dysfunction in severe pediatric sepsis. Although exploratory, the lack of therapies to prevent or mitigate central nervous system dysfunction in pediatric sepsis warrants further studies to clarify the mechanism and confirm the potential protective effect of these rare ABCC8/TRPM4 variants.