Metabolism of immune cells in septic shock in children

In septic shock the hyperimmune response and immunosuppression can occur at the same time, being defined as mixed antagonist response syndrome. Under standard conditions, mitochondria supports cellular energy metabolism through the citric cycle and the phosphorylation chain. Both NK and T cells produce an immediate effector response to inflammatory signals using the rapid production of energy in aerobic glycolysis (glucose-lactate]. When the inflammatory signal is eliminated, they return to metabolism in the Krebs cycle. Septic shock in the children was accompanied by immunoparalysis (TNFα <200pg/ml), lower monocyte human antigen (HLA-DR), loss of peripheral non-naive CD4 T cells and low mitochondrial respiration. Children with septic shock had a in hospital mortality rate of 10.8-33.5%, high risk of hospitali­zation in the next 28 days and in the following months with predominantly respiratory infections. The treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction, insufficiently structured, is based on antioxidant medication, but the results await confirmation.