Understanding host response to sepsis

Sepsis is a global, life-threatening condition defined as multiple-organ damage or failure from uncontrolled immune responses against infection. Broadly, there are two stages of sepsis (early and late) which differ by the activation state of the immune response. Systemic infection drive an immediate, potent inflammatory immune response (the early stage of sepsis which causes tissue damage). The body then attempts to balance inflammation by suppressing the immune system, however in sepsis patients this suppression is too strong and impairs the normal functions of the immune system (the late stage of sepsis). As such, it is critical to understand how sepsis patients develop impaired immune systems and identify therapeutics to balance the immune system of patients during early and late stages of sepsis.