Cytokines, chemokines and other effector molecules involved in meningococcal disease

This review examines the role of cytokines and chemokines in the pathogenes is of meningococcal disease (AICD) and draws comparisons with studies of ot her forms of sepsis in adults and in animal models. There are many similari ties but also discrepancies between these data. MCD is a well-defined clini cal syndrome with identifiable onset and time of presentation. It is a reli able model in which to study cytokine and chemokine responses in bacterial sepsis. Such studies may lead to new adjunctive treatments, which can be te sted to ameliorate severe MCD.