Sepsis: Links between Pathogen Sensing and Organ Damage | Bentham Science
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Current Pharmaceutical Design

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1381-6128
ISSN (Online): 1873-4286

Sepsis: Links between Pathogen Sensing and Organ Damage

Author(s): Elliott Crouser, Matthew Exline, Daren Knoell and Mark D. Wewers

Volume 14, Issue 19, 2008

Page: [1840 - 1852] Pages: 13

DOI: 10.2174/138161208784980572

Price: $65

Abstract

The hosts inflammatory response to sepsis can be divided into two phases, the initial detection and response to the pathogen initiated by the innate immune response, and the persistent inflammatory state characterized by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). New therapies aimed at pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) particularly the TLRs and the NOD-like receptors offer hope to suppress the initial inflammatory response in early sepsis and to bolster this response in late sepsis. The persistence of MODS after the initial inflammatory surge can also be a determining factor to host survival. MODS is due to the cellular damage and death induced by sepsis. The mechanism of this cell death depends in part upon mitochondrial dysfunction. Damaged mitochondria have increased membrane permeability prompting their autophagic removal if few mitochondria are involved but apoptotic cell death may occur if the mitochondrial losses are more extensive. In addition. severe loss of mitochondria results in low cell energy stores, necrotic cell death, and increased inflammation driven by the release of cell components such as HMGB1. Therapies, which aim at improving cellular energy reserves such as the promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis by insulin, may have a role in future sepsis therapies. Finally, both the inflammatory responses and the susceptibility to organ failure may be modulated by nutritional status and micronutrients, such as zinc, Therapies aimed at micronutrient repletion may further augment approaches targeting PRR function and mitochondrial viability.

Keywords: Sepsis, pathogen, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs), mitochondria, necrotic cell death, inflammation, biogenesis


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