Death to sepsis: targeting apoptosis pathways in sepsis

Sepsis is a significant public health problem and is one of the leading causes of death in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit. The cost, both in terms of lives lost and annual healthcare expenditures, from sepsis is staggering. Unfortunately, despite an increasing understanding of the unique molecular pathobiology of sepsis, mortality has remained more or less stable over the past decade. Moreover, promising therapies in preclinical models of sepsis have universally failed to live up to initial expectations in subsequent clinical trials. Multiple studies have demonstrated that apoptosis plays a major role in the pathobiology of sepsis and acute lung injury, making the apoptosis pathway an attractive target for therapy. Herein, the role of apoptosis in sepsis is briefly discussed, highlighting studies with one potential therapeutic agent targeting the apoptosis pathway.