TY - JOUR
T1 - Role of apoptotic cell death in sepsis
AU - Hotchkiss, Richard S.
AU - Tinsley, Kevin W.
AU - Karl, Irene E.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Sepsis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients in many intensive care units. The pathophysiology of organ failure and death in patients with sepsis remain elusive. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of cell death in sepsis, the types of cells that are dying and the consequences on immunity. Extensive apoptotic death results in immune cell depletion and may compromise the ability of the patient to eradicate the primary infection and predispose to secondary nosocomial infections. Peripheral circulating lymphocyte apoptosis is also increased in patients with sepsis and correlates with the severity of the disease. In addition, recent evidence indicates that uptake of apoptotic cells impairs the immune function of surviving cells and contributes to immunosuppression. This new understanding of sepsis may lead to novel therapeutic approaches including pharmacological agents that block apoptosis.
AB - Sepsis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients in many intensive care units. The pathophysiology of organ failure and death in patients with sepsis remain elusive. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of cell death in sepsis, the types of cells that are dying and the consequences on immunity. Extensive apoptotic death results in immune cell depletion and may compromise the ability of the patient to eradicate the primary infection and predispose to secondary nosocomial infections. Peripheral circulating lymphocyte apoptosis is also increased in patients with sepsis and correlates with the severity of the disease. In addition, recent evidence indicates that uptake of apoptotic cells impairs the immune function of surviving cells and contributes to immunosuppression. This new understanding of sepsis may lead to novel therapeutic approaches including pharmacological agents that block apoptosis.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0242383208&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00365540310015692
DO - 10.1080/00365540310015692
M3 - Review article
C2 - 14620139
AN - SCOPUS:0242383208
SN - 0036-5548
VL - 35
SP - 585
EP - 592
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 9
ER -