Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by dysregulated host responses to infection, frequently leading to multiple organ failure. Beyond its immunological disturbances, sepsis is accompanied by profound metabolic adaptations, which play a critical role in disease progression and recovery. The liver, as a central metabolic organ, is pivotal in coordinating systemic responses during sepsis, including glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and acute-phase protein synthesis. To investigate these hepatic adaptive processes under septic conditions, we employ precision-cut liver tissue slices as an ex vivo model. This approach preserves the complex multicellular architecture of the liver and enables the analysis of metabolic, transcriptional, and functional responses to septic stimuli in a controlled environment. Our studies aim to advance the understanding of metabolic reprogramming during sepsis, providing insights that may contribute to targeted therapeutic interventions.

During summer school, students will learn how to cut organ slices, infect them and analyze protein phosphorylation and cytokine release.