VCAN and Sepsis: Compstatin treatment during the second stage of sepsis, beginning at 5 hrs post-exposure to E. coli (E. coli CS T+5) caused down-regulation of multiple fibrosis-related genes downstream of TGF-β, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), and ET1, including signalling mediators (Smad2/3, CTGF), matrix remodelling proteases/protease inhibitors (TIMP1), various collagens and other matrix proteins (fibronectin 1 (FN1), elastin (ELN), SPARC, versican (VCAN), syndecan 2(SDC2); Fig. S1).