Impaired monocyte‐macrophage functions and defective toll‐like receptor signaling in hepatitis E virus‐infected pregnant women with acute liver failure

Abstract

Functionality of mono-macs is impaired in pregnant ALF-E patients compared to AVH-E(P). Reduced TLR3 and TLR7 expression and TLR downstream-signaling molecules in pregnant ALF-E patients suggests inadequate triggers for the innate immune responses contributing to development and severity of ALF-E. Studies using TLR agonists to activate mono-macs may be of use and in vitro studies should be undertaken using patient samples.