PDK4 and Sepsis: They also showed molecular changes occurring during sepsis that can inhibit the oxidation of glucose—including an increase in pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 (PDK2) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) protein levels, and an increase in PDH phosphorylation which inhibits the entry of pyruvate into the TCA cycle [137].