Abstract:

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, with high morbidity, mortality, and cost. Under the sepsis state, many gut factors, including increased cell apoptosis and permeability, mucosal damage, and flora imbalance, could promote the process of sepsis. Therefore, gut dysfunction was previously regarded as the 'motor' of sepsis. However, some new studies posed a challenge on the key role of gut dysfunction in sepsis. In this paper, we summarize new studies to answer the question whether gut dysfunction is still the 'motor' of sepsis. The results obtained from these studies show that even the bacterial translocation theory is unsupported by the new studies, gut dysfunction is still the important driver of the process of sepsis. Severe diseases could induce gut dysfunction by increasing epithelial apoptosis, gut permeability, and chemical and immune barrier damage. Meanwhile, flora imbalance is also one of the factors that promote multi-organ dysfunction. In conclusion, gut dysfunction is still the 'motor' of sepsis and can promote the process of sepsis.

Key words: Sepsis, Intestinal injury, Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome