The present study is the first to demonstrate that (1) plasma from patients with septic shock induces loss of myosin and activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and (2) that the atrophic response initiated by plasma from septic shock patients is most severe immediately upon arrival at the ICU and decreases during subsequent days and (3) IL-6 plays a prominent role in inducing the atrophic response. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and septic shock.