Semaphorin 3A (
Sema3A), a member of the Sema family of
proteins, appears to serve an important role in
sepsis and sepsis‑induced immunosuppression and has been regarded as a crucial regulator involved in cellular immune response. However, the role of
Sema3A in CD4+ T cell anergy during
sepsis remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the cecal
ligation and perforation model and
lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used to simulate
sepsis and the role of
Sema3A in sepsis‑induced CD4+ T cell anergy was investigated in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, the serum concentration of
Sema3A was enhanced and exacerbated sepsis‑induced T cell immunosuppression and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (
MODS). Administration of (‑)‑epigallocatechin‑3‑gallate, an inhibitor of
Sema3A, markedly improved sepsis‑induced T cell immunosuppression and
MODS. In vitro, both lymphoid and myeloid lineages secreted high concentration of
Sema3A in LPS‑induced
sepsis, especially in the lymphoid lineage. Inhibition of
Sema3A alleviated T cell anergy. The NF‑κB signaling pathway was involved in Sema3A‑mediated autocrine loop aggravating T cell immune dysfunction during LPS‑induced
sepsis. Inhibiting
Sema3A exerted significant improvement of sepsis‑induced immunosuppression and
MODS, which was associated with improvement of CD4+ T cells anergy via regulation of the NF‑κB signaling pathway.