Except for higher proportion of KIR3DL1+ NK cells, no difference in expression of either activating (i.e., CD16, NKp30, NKp46, and NKG2D) or inhibitory membrane receptors (i.e., KIR, NKG2A) was observed between Sepsis group and SIRS group patients (Table 2), as well as between patients with severe sepsis or septic shock (data not shown). This evidence concerns the gene KLRK1 and septic shock.