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Bronchoalveolar Lavage Exosomes in Lipopolysaccharide-induced Septic Lung Injury
Published on: May 21, 2018
An extracellular microRNA can rescue lives in sepsis
Kelly Van Looveren1,2, Lise Van Wyngene1,2, Claude Libert1,2
1Center for Inflammation Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract:
Sepsis, or blood poisoning, is a savage response of the body to infection. It can lead to organ failure, blood pressure decline, heart failure, and coma. Between 20 and 30 million people suffer from sepsis each year, leading to 8 million deaths. Although certain people are more at risk than others (young children, elderly), anyone can develop sepsis. Patients are resuscitated and treated with antibiotics, and their organ functions are supported. Despite the investment in sepsis research during the previous decades, successful clinical trials are scarce and sepsis remains one of the most difficult and deadly unmet medical needs of today. A study in this issue now provides new insight into sepsis and points to a therapeutic future [1 ].
Insights
Sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection, causes organ failure and millions of deaths annually. New research offers novel insights, potentially paving the way for future sepsis treatments.
Area of Science:
- Critical care medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Sepsis, or blood poisoning, is a severe systemic inflammatory response to infection.
- It affects 20-30 million people globally each year, resulting in 8 million deaths.
- Despite extensive research, sepsis remains a leading cause of death with limited effective treatments.
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