Publication Name	World Journal of Critical Care Medicine
Manuscript ID	120314
Country	United States

Category	Medicine, Research & Experimental
Manuscript Type	Review
Article Title	Dissipation of the mitochondrial proton motive force drives sepsis pathogenesis and explains hyperlactatemia’s predictive value in sepsis mortality
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Jay Pravda
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Jay Pravda, MD, Senior Scientist, Department of Disease Pathogenesis, Inflammatory Disease Research Centre, 4371 Northlake Blvd No. 247, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410, United States. jay.pravda@protonmail.com
Key Words	Sepsis; Hydrogen peroxide; Proton motive force; Sodium thiosulfate; Dihydrolipoic acid
Core Tip	Despite extensive research spanning several decades and numerous unsuccessful clinical trials, the underlying cause of sepsis remains elusive. However, the characteristic metabolic disturbances observed in sepsis—such as hyperlactatemia, bioenergetic failure, metabolic acidosis, hypothermia, and oxidative stress—can be explained by dissipation of the mitochondrial proton motive force. Emerging evidence suggests that hydrogen peroxide–mediated disruption of this proton gradient represents the proximal mechanism driving the pathogenesis of sepsis.
Citation	Pravda J. Dissipation of the mitochondrial proton motive force drives sepsis pathogenesis and explains hyperlactatemia’s predictive value in sepsis mortality. World J Crit Care Med 2026; In press

Received	2026-02-24 05:57
Peer-Review Started	2026-02-24 06:04
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-28 07:16
Return for Revision	2026-02-28 07:16
Revised	2026-03-12 17:29
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-04-21 02:48
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-21 09:28
Articles in Press	2026-04-21 09:28
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2220-3141(online)
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Copyright	©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
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