Impact of stress on the endoplasmic reticulum during the development of shock- or sepsis-induced organ failure

Traumatic conditions like hemorrhagic shock trigger stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of cells. We want to find out its implications on patients, hence we are studying the two most important consequences this event, (i) the activation of three branches of the unfolded protein response (ATF6, IRE1 and PERK), and (ii) the disturbances in calcium metabolism. Our current findings indicate that in response to ER stress, the vasculature in liver expands through molecular mechanisms that rely on calcium and nitric oxide.