Sepsis-induced immunosuppression: mechanisms, biomarkers and immunotherapy

Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated host response to infection, initiates a complex immune response that varies over time, characterized by sustained excessive inflammation and immunosuppression. Sepsis-induced immunosuppression is now recognized as a major cause of septic death, and identifying effective strategies to counteract it poses a significant challenge. This immunosuppression results from the disruption of immune homeostasis, characterized by the abnormal death of immune effector cells, hyperproliferation of immune suppressor cells, release of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and expression of immune checkpoints. Preclinical studies targeting immunosuppression,…