Apoptosis in lymphoid and parenchymal cells during sepsis

Apoptosis is an important mechanism of cell death in lymphocytes and parenchymal cells in sepsis and occurs systemically in many organs. Apoptosis may be an important cause of immunologic suppression in sepsis by inducing widespread lymphocyte depletion. Alternately, apoptosis may be beneficial to host survival by down-regulating the inflammatory response which accompanies sepsis. The degree to which parenchymal cell apoptosis is contributing to multiple organ failure cannot be determined from the present study. Findings in Rag-1 mice demonstrate that mature T and B cells and their secretory products are not necessary for apoptosis to occur during sepsis and that apoptotic cell death is not restricted to T or B cells. Apoptosis may be a key regulator of the balance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory process.