title: Molecular biology of septic shock.
abstract: Septic shock is a complex pathophysiologic state which often leads to multiple organ dysfunction, multiple organ failure, and death. This review summarizes current views on the molecular biology of three aspects of septic shock: recognition of bacterial invasion and induction of the cytokine response; genetic variability among humans and their predispositions toward pathologic inflammatory responses; and the signal transduction mechanisms which account for the transfer of molecular signals from cytokine receptors on the plasma membrane to cytokine-responsive genes in the nucleus. In particular, the review summarizes the pathway involved in tumor necrosis factor signaling through nuclear factor-kappaB, and elucidates the molecular signals involved in inflammatory responses and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, and The Crystal Charity Ball Center for Research in Pediatric Critical Care, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9063, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Haudek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Giroir
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha