Endothelial cell dysfunction and targeted therapeutic drugs in sepsis

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by an abnormal host response to microbial infections. During its pathogenesis, vascular endothelial cells (ECs) play a pivotal role as essential components in maintaining microcirculatory homeostasis. This article aims to comprehensively review the multifaceted physiological functions of vascular ECs, elucidate the alterations in their functionality throughout the course of sepsis, and explore recent advancements in research concerning sepsis-related therapeutic drugs targeting ECs.

Keywords

• Sepsis
• Vascular endothelial cells
• Endothelial cell dysfunction
• Targeted therapeutic drugs