Lymphocytes, apoptosis and sepsis: making the jump from mice to humans

doi:10.1186/cc7144

Critical Care
Volume 13
Issue 1

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Lymphocytes, apoptosis and sepsis: making the jump from mice to humans

John D Lang¹^,2 and Gustavo Matute-Bello³

¹The VA Puget Sound HealthCare System, Seattle, WA 98108, USA

²Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

³Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center for Lung Biology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2009, 13:109doi:10.1186/cc7144


Published:	12 January 2009

See related research by Weber et al., http://ccforum.com/content/12/6/R128

Abstract

Sepsis is an important clinical problem with a mortality rate of 20% to 30%. Lymphocyte apoptosis has been recognized as an important step in the pathogenesis of experimental sepsis, by inducing a state of 'immune paralysis' that renders the host vulnerable to invading pathogens. The importance of lymphocyte apoptosis in human disease is now confirmed by Weber and colleagues, who demonstrate extensive apoptosis in circulating lymphocytes from patients with severe sepsis. Weber and colleagues' data set the basis for further studies aimed at modulating lymphocyte apoptosis in sepsis.