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Apoptosis in sepsis: mechanisms, clinical impact and potential therapeutic targets

Alfred Ayala1, Mario Perl, Fabienne Venet

  • 1Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI 02903, USA. AAYALA@LIFESPAN.org

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|August 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Understanding sepsis pathophysiology is crucial for developing effective treatments. This review explores how cell types and target cell responses influence immune and organ dysfunction in sepsis, aiming to identify new therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Current sepsis therapies are insufficient for critically ill patients, highlighting a need for deeper understanding of sepsis pathophysiology.
  • Sepsis leads to multiple organ failure, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of cellular apoptosis signaling in sepsis-induced immune and organ dysfunction.
  • To explore how different cell types and target cell capacities influence apoptotic, inflammatory, or necrotic responses in sepsis.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for managing sepsis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review examining studies on sepsis pathophysiology.
  • Analysis of cellular mechanisms underlying immune and organ dysfunction in sepsis.
  • Discussion of apoptotic, inflammatory, and necrotic signaling pathways in septic conditions.

Main Results:

  • Sepsis-induced organ dysfunction is influenced by the specific cells mediating apoptosis and the target cells' response to death receptor stimuli.
  • The capacity of target cells to interpret death receptor signals as apoptotic, inflammatory, or necrotic varies across tissues.
  • This cellular variability contributes to the complex immune and organ dysfunctions observed in sepsis.

Conclusions:

  • A deeper understanding of sepsis pathobiology, particularly cellular signaling, is essential for developing effective interventions.
  • Identifying specific cellular targets and response pathways could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for sepsis and multiple organ failure.

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