Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common pathogen associated with otitis media. To examine the role of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in host defense against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in the middle ear, wild-type (WT; C57BL/6) and TLR2-deficient (TLR2(-/-)) mice were inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae (1 x 10(6) CFU) through the tympanic membrane. Nineteen of 37 TLR2(-/-) mice sh...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression of NOD2 in human VSMCs, its role in the production of inflammatory cytokines in VSMC and the possible interaction of NOD2-mediated signaling pathway with those mediated by TLR2 and TLR4. METHODS Human coronary artery smooth muscle cells were stimulated with NOD2 agonist MDP alone or in combination with either TLR2 agonist PAM3 or TLR4 agonist LPSs. The ...

OBJECTIVE Atherosclerosis encompasses a conspicuously maladaptive inflammatory response that might involve innate immunity. Here, we compared the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) with that of TLR2 in intimal foam cell accumulation and inflammation in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout (KO) mice in vivo and determined potential mechanisms of upstream activation and downstream action. METHODS ...

The polysaccharides of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) possess immunomodulation activities; however, their mode of molecular action in regulating each cellular subset in the immune system is still not clear. Here, we investigate the function of the main polysaccharide fraction of Reishi (Reishi-F3) in B lymphocyte activation/differentiation. We find that Reishi-F3 causes mouse splenic B cell activat...

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease that develops following repeated exposure to environmental antigens. The disease results in alveolitis, granuloma formation and may progress to a fibrotic chronic form, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The severity of the disease correlates with a neutrophil rich influx and an IL-17 response. We used ...

We investigated whether the pathways linked to Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLRs) are involved in renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Wild type (WT) C57BL/6J, TLR2-/- and TLR4-/- mice were subjected to left kidney ischemia for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 5, 8, 12 and 15 days. Proton density magnetic resonance showed alterations in the injured kidney from WT mice...

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are essential to mount a rapid innate immune reaction to pathogens. Although TLR2 is the key receptor for pathogen-associated molecular patterns from Gram-positive bacteria, a robust transcriptional activation of the gene encoding this receptor takes place in the brain of mice exposed to the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS). TLR2 gene expression is actually used a...

Accumulating evidence indicates that microglial TLR2 and TLR4 play a significant role in nociception. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the contribution of TLR2 and TLR4 and their adaptor molecules to neuropathy and their ability to amplify opioid effectiveness. Behavioral tests (von Frey's and cold plate) and biochemical (Western blot and qRT-PCR) analysis of spinal cord and DRG tissue we...

AIMS Aim was to elucidate the specific role of pattern recognition receptors in vascular dysfunction during polymicrobial sepsis (colon ascendens stent peritonitis, CASP). METHODS AND RESULTS Vascular contractility of C57BL/6 (wildtype) mice and mice deficient for Toll-like receptor 2/4/9 (TLR2-D, TLR4-D, TLR9-D) or CD14 (CD14-D) was measured 18 h following CASP. mRNA expression of pro- (Tumo...

In vitro studies as well as clinical trials indicate that the cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) enhance the ability of neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) to eliminate microbial organisms. Toll-like receptor (TLR) proteins, homologs of the Drosophila protein Toll, have been found on the surface of mammali...