EPO and Sepsis: These observations are in line with evidence that i) TGFβ participates in HBEC apoptosis induced by PL [38], ii) erythropoietin promotes endothelial cell integrity and angiogenesis [39] and has been associated with resistance against CM in humans and mice [40], [41], iii) TREM-1, which is expressed on myeloid and endothelial cells, has been shown to be involved in the innate inflammatory response and sepsis [42], [43], and its ligand is expressed on human PL [44].