MOLECULAR-BIOLOGY OF SEPTIC SHOCK

Septic shock is a complex pathophysiologic state which often leads to multiple organ dysfunction, multiple organ failure, and death. This re view summarizes current views on the molecular biology of three aspect s of septic shock: recognition of bacterial invasion and induction of the cytokine response; genetic variability among humans and their pred ispositions toward pathologic inflammatory responses; and the signal t ransduction mechanisms which account for the transfer of molecular sig nals from cytokine receptors on the plasma membrane to cytokine-respon sive genes in the nucleus, In particular, the review summarizes the pa thway involved in tumor necrosis factor signaling through nuclear fact or-KB, and elucidates the molecular signals involved in inflammatory r esponses and apoptosis.