title: Fractal-like kinetics, a possible link between preconditioning and sepsis immunodepression. On the chemical basis of innate immunity.
abstract: In a recent paper the authors hypothesized that the so called fractal-like enzyme kinetics of intracellular reactions may explain the preconditioning effect in biology (Vasilescu C, Olteanu M, Flondor P, Revue Roumaine de Chimie. 2011; 56(7): 751-7). Inside cells the reaction kinetics is very well described by fractal-like kinetics. In the present work some clinical implications of this model are analyzed. Endotoxin tolerance is a particular case of preconditioning and shows similarities with the immunodepression seen in some sepsis patients. This idea offers a theoretical support for modulation of the enzymatic activity of the cell by changing the fractal dimension of the cytoskeleton.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Bucharest, Romania. catvasilescu@gmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vasilescu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olteanu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Flondor
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004731:Endotoxins; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007700:Kinetics; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins