Molecular basics of sepsis developement.

Bacterial infections and sepsis remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units. The normal host response to infection is a complex process that serves to localise and control the invasion of microbes and to repair injured tissue. Local inflammatory processes are regulated through the production of cytokines by macrophages. In some cases, mediator release exceeds the boundaries of the local environment and results in the development of sepsis. It is well known that the innate immune system plays a crucial role in preventing microbial invasion. The human innate immune system consists of genetically programmed defence mechanisms that are directed against molecular components found only in microorganisms. Understanding the complexity of early response to infection with respect to innate immune response is required for the future development of drugs that will effectively control infectious diseases.