Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the primary endogenous stress response to sepsis and triggers the production and release of vasopressors such as arginine-vasopressin (AVP), catecholamines such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, as well as cortisol in humans (57) and corticosterone in rodents (58). The gene discussed is AVP; the disease is Sepsis.