title: The intestinal microenvironment in sepsis.
abstract: The gastrointestinal tract has long been hypothesized to function as "the motor" of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The gastrointestinal microenvironment is comprised of a single cell layer epithelia, a local immune system, and the microbiome. These three components of the intestine together play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis during times of health. However, the gastrointestinal microenvironment is perturbed during sepsis, resulting in pathologic changes that drive both local and distant injury. In this review, we seek to characterize the relationship between the epithelium, gastrointestinal lymphocytes, and commensal bacteria during basal and pathologic conditions and how the intestinal microenvironment may be targeted for therapeutic gain in septic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Katherine T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Fay
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Mandy L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Emory Critical Care Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: cmcoop3@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Craig M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Coopersmith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Epithelium; Gut; Immune system; Intestine; Microbiome; Sepsis