title: The role of complement, C5a and its receptors in sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome.
abstract: Sepsis continues to be a major clinical problem that is difficult to treat, as the pathophysiology of the disease is still unclear. Despite promising experimental strategies, therapeutic interventions have been largely unsuccessful. There is now increasing evidence that the disturbance of innate immunity during sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) may be linked to uncontrolled activation of the complement system. Especially, the powerful anaphylatoxin C5a seems to play a key role in the development of immune paralysis. In this review, we describe our present understanding of the role of complement in the inflammatory response during sepsis and MODS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of Ulm, Steinhoevelstrasse 9, 89075 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Flierl
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Markus S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Huber-Lang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003167:Complement Activation; D015936:Complement C5a / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D044087:Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a / Q000502:physiology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: C496868:C5ar2 protein, rat; D044087:Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a; D015936:Complement C5a