Additionally, disease genes associated with septic shock were retrieved from the DisGeNET database (http://www.disgenet.org/web/DisGeNET/menu/search?4), with the top 20 genes (TNF, C5AR1, GC, AQP1, NOS2, SELL, TBXA2R, A2M, ELANE, IL6, IL10, TLR4, CASP1, ADM, IL1B, LTA, CD14, SAA1, SAA2 and SLC5A1) considered to be septic shock-related genes. The gene discussed is A2M; the disease is septic shock.