Modulation of tissue Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 during the early phases of polymicrobial sepsis correlates with mortality*

Abstract

Early increases in TLR2/4 gene and TLR4 protein expression correlated with mortality, whereas blunting TLR gene and protein expression correlated with improved long-term survival. This suggests that early up-regulation of tissue TLR2/4 may play a role in the proinflammatory response and pathophysiology of polymicrobial sepsis.