ABSTRACT
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome resulting from a host response to infection. The early stage of sepsis is characterized by excessive inflammatory response, accompanied by immune dysfunction characterized by aggravating cellular immunosuppression. The vast majority of patients with sepsis survive the initial excessive inflammatory response, but die of hospital-acquired infection, opportunistic pathogenic bacteria infection, latent virus reactivation, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. These facts indicate that immunosuppression may be a significant cause of exacerbation of the illness even death of the septic patients. The primary cellular mechanisms in inducing immune dysfunction include immune dysfunction of T lymphocytes, negative regulation of regulatory T lymphocytes and dendritic cells, and damage of intestinal mucosa associated lymphoid tissue. Xuebijing injection is a complex Chinese patent medicine, which is widely used in the treatment of sepsis. It has a potential immunoregulation ability, as well as effects on bacteriostasis, anti-endotoxin and anti-inflammation. Its target and mechanism of action need to be explored further.