Systemic inflammatory response syndrome: interactions between immune cells and the endothelium

The interaction between immune and endothelial cells has become an area of intense research interest over the last several years. These efforts have been spurred by the identification of specific cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that mediate the interactions between these two cell populations. Recent efforts have focused on further defining the exact function of these CAMs in health and disease. We have focused our efforts on quantification of these CAMs and understanding how their expression relates to neutrophil and endothelial cell function in the setting of the systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Theories regarding neutrophil and endothelial cell interactions in the pathogenesis of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome are presented.