title: Muscle in defense.
abstract: The physical inactivity of the critically ill patient is an abnormal state that compromises muscle function to an extent that the immobile skeletal muscle may not simply be a bystander in the disease process.Skeletal muscle seems to maintain a system of defense against inflammation through heat shock proteins and the production of myokines. It contributes in a bidirectional role in systemic inflammatory signaling and the modulation of the inflammatory response. Skeletal muscle is a major contributor to whole-body glucose and protein metabolism, exemplified by its role in nutrient provision for the immune system and other rapidly dividing tissues through glutamine production.
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lightfoot
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D005973:Glutamine