Autophagy plays an important role in the occurrence and development of sepsis. This study aims to explore and verify the key autophagy-related genes in sepsis, then construct their regulatory networks and evaluate their potential diagnostic value, so as to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.

(1) Sepsis-related datasets GSE65682,GSE134347 and GSE134358 were downloaded from GEO database, and DEmRNA,DElncRNA and DEmiRNA were obtained by differential analysis. (2) Autophagy related genes (ARGs) were obtained from Human Autophagy Database, and ARGs in GSE65682 and GSE134347 were extracted. DEARGs were obtained by differential analysis, and GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed. (3) Sepsis-related genes were obtained by WGCNA analysis, and key DEARGs in sepsis were obtained by intersection with DEARGs, and then transcription factors and ceRNA regulatory network were analyzed. (4) Immune infiltration analysis was used to evaluate the distribution of immune cells in the blood of patients with sepsis, and its correlation with key DEARGs was further analyzed. (5) The diagnostic functions of key DEARGs were analyzed. (6) Peripheral blood samples from sepsis patients and healthy controls were collected and verified by RT-qPCR.

Inclusion Criteria:1) over 18 years old; 2) Meeting the diagnostic criteria of Sepsis 3.0; 3) Hospital stay longer than 24 hours.

Exclusion Criteria:1) Malignant tumor; 2) Autoimmune diseases; 3) Use of immunosuppressants in the past two weeks; 4) Readmission or transfer from another ICU due to the same disease.

sepsis group: Eligible patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from September 2022 to December 2022.

control group: Age - and sex-matched healthy controls.