A novel computer vision-based assessment of neutrophil chemotaxis in patients with severe infection

Objectives To evaluate the value of chemotactic function of neutrophils in patients with severe infections. Methods A computer vision-based cellular chemotaxis analysis platform was established for the dynamic assessment of neutrophil chemotaxis. Fifty-three patients in the intensive care unit were eligible for the study. In parallel, 142 healthy volunteers were recruited to detect and establish the normal values for chemotactic function. Four chemotactic function indicators were determined-chemotaxis distance (CD), chemotaxis cell ratio (CCR), chemotaxis index (CI) and maximum speed of chemotaxis (V-max). The chemotaxis function scores (CFS) were calculated for further correlation analysis with clinical data. Results The normal ranges of indicators were established as CD >= 1755.85 mu m, CCR >= 3.34%, CI >= 39.63, V-max >= 14.63 mu m min(-1) and CFS >= 15. We found that the chemotactic function of neutrophils in patients suffering from infections was significantly impaired. The mean values of CD, CCR, CI, V-max and CFS were 1452.8 mu m (P < 0.0001), 3.1% (P < 0.0001), 34.5 (P < 0.0001), 12.2 mu m min(-1) (P < 0.0001) and 9 (P < 0.0001), respectively. CD and CFS were significantly negatively correlated with the APACHE II score (rCD = -0.55, rCFS = -0.39), SOFA score (rCD = -0.68, rCFS = -0.56), procalcitonin concentration (rCD = -0.60, rCFS = -0.5) and the expression of P2RX1 (rCD = -0.76, rCFS = -0.56), respectively. Conclusions CD, CCR, CI and V-max can well reflect the neutrophil chemotactic function in patients with severe infections. CFS systematically indicated neutrophil function and has promising clinical application prospects.