IL-10 in supernatants of LPS-stimulated PBMCs from 14 patients with uncomplicated sepsis, 12 patients with severe sepsis and 18 patients with septic shock was below the limit of detection (data not shown), showing that the release of IL-10 did not differ within the stages of sepsis in a similar way as pro-inflammatory cytokines differed. The gene discussed is IL10; the disease is Shock.