Extracellular CIRP promotes Kupffer cell inflammatory polarization in sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening inflammatory condition caused by dysregulated host responses to infection. Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) is a recently discovered damage-associated molecular pattern that causes inflammation and organ injury in sepsis. Kupffer cells can be activated and polarized to the inflammatory M1 phenotype, contributing to tissue damage by producing proinflammatory mediators. We hypothesized that eCIRP promotes Kupffer cell M1 polarization in sepsis.