Solid Organ Injury

Land, Walter Gottlieb

In this chapter, traumatic and nontraumatic solid organ injuries (including examples of drug-induced and alcohol-related organ injuries) known to cause acute or chronic diseases are neatly described. By referring to selected acute/chronic injury-induced disorders including traumatic brain injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute kidney and liver injury, as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic hepatitis (→ cirrhosis), the emerging pathogenetic role of DAMPs and suppressing DAMPs (SAMPs) is outlined by quoting recently published reports from the literature. In particular, the impact of DAMPs on promotion of organ-specific hyperinflammation, chronic nonresolving inflammation, and fibrosis, as well as the potential properties of SAMPs in resolving organ-specific inflammation are highlighted. The chapter ends up with the discussion on DAMPs and SAMPs as future essential diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and therapeutics. For example, in patients with organ-specific injuries, the continuous determination of a “DAMPs/SAMPs ratio” may provide individual information about the severity of the injury, their possible remote effects, and early signs of either controlled healing or uncontrolled disease-causing processes. Finally, the therapeutic imperative is discussed, interpreted as a blockade/elimination of DAMPs and/or administration of SAMPs to prevent an injury-induced hyperinflammatory state (e.g., acute organ failure) or chronic nonresolving inflammatory state (e.g., chronic organ failure).