title: Sepsis: links between pathogen sensing and organ damage.
abstract: The host's 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. crouser-1@medctr.osu.edu
authors.forename: Elliott
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crouser
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Exline
authors.forename: Daren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knoell
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wewers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053472:Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053472:Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors