Fig. 2.

Involvement of protease activity in various diseases. Activation of the interconnected host complement and coagulation cascade can augment cleavage of auxiliary proteases and vice versa, inducing the release of downstream effectors responsible for disease induction or generalization. Proteases released from damaged tissue after trauma or invading pathogens during sepsis can further increase the inflammatory response. FSAP factor VII-activating protease, MODS multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome