Present understanding of mediators and experimental models of sepsis

Abstract

The author presents a reviewed description about the inflammatory response during sepsis, viewing the mainly mediators in this process, as cytokines and nitric oxide, and the role of these mediators in the evolution of this disease. This aspect is not so linear and simple, because the importance of each mediators depend on experimental model, animal species and sepsis stage. Furthermore, it will be reviewed the principal experimental models used for the study of sepsis, discussing the advantage of each one and their contribution for the comprehension of the disease. It has no doubt about the importance of all experimental model of sepsis and septic shock, however it is crucial to distinguish the good and bad features about each model, in order to concern successful results for clinic trials.