Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) is a cell surface receptor expressed on neutrophils and monocytes. TREM-1 acts to amplify inflammation and serves as a critical mediator of inflammatory response in the context of sepsis. Blocking of TREM-1 can protect against sepsis in mice. This study was designed to investigate whether TREM-1 genomic variations were associated with the prognosis of sepsis. We sequenced 30 sepsis patients with TREM-1 gene of four exons by PCR sequencing. When analyzing the results of sequencing, we found two gene polymorphisms located in exon-2 and exon-4, respectively. Compare with the NCBI dbSNP and Hapmap database, one polymorphisms located in exon-2 is non-synonymous variation rs2234237（Ser25Thr）, the other one located in exon-4 is synonymous variation rs2234246. Two common polymorphisms (rs2234237,rs2234246) within the TREM-1 gene were detected in 80 patients with severe sepsis and in 80 healthy control subjects. This study was explored that whether or not polymorphisms detected within the TREM-1 gene may play a major role in the predisposition to prognosis of sepsis in a Chinese Han cohort.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Sepsis met the criteria recommended by 1991 ACCP/SCCM Joint Meeting and by the diagnostic criteria developed at the 2001 International Sepsis Definition Conference.

Exclusion Criteria:

• (1) younger than 18 years of age; (2) acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; (3) reduced polymorphonuclear granulocyte counts (< 500 μL-1); (4) died within 24h after admission into the ICU, or refused to participate in the study, or declined treatment during the period of observation.

All subjects were selected from among inpatients who were hospitalized between September 2009 and October 2011 in the Respiratory ICU, Surgical ICU, and Emergency ICU, Chinese People's Liberation Army (CPLA) General Hospital.