Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036690 (sepsis)
 59,461 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Maternal starvation is a significant cause of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in the world and increases the risk of infection in the neonate. We examined the effect of maternal starvation on Toll like receptor (TLR)4 expression in hepatic, splenic and intestinal tissues obtained from the adult IUGR offspring of prenatal calorie restricted rats. The hepatic TLR4 protein concentration was undetectable in the IUGR rats that had restricted milk intake during the suckling period (SM/SP; n = 4. p < 0.05) as compared to the normal growth controls (CM/CP; n = 4), and access to ad lib milk intake during the sucking period partially corrected the hepatic TLR4 expression (SM/CP; n = 4). IUGR had no effect on the splenic (n = 4) or intestinal (n = 4) TLR4 mRNA levels. In the liver, IUGR led to a 20% increase in baseline tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA expression (p < 0.03) and a 70% increase in interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) mRNA expression (p < 0.008) as compared to the control rats (CM/CP; n = 7). LPS-induced hepatic TNF-alpha release was significantly higher in SM/SP as compared to CM/CP. We propose that IUGR dysregulates TLR4 expression and function in the offspring, which may help explain the increased risk of Gram-negative sepsis and inflammatory diseases in this population.
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PMID:Intra-uterine growth restriction downregulates the hepatic toll like receptor-4 expression and function. 1571

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has become a new target for combating Gram-negative bacterium-induced sepsis. In this study, we screened peptides that can interact with TLR4 from a random 16-peptide library using yeast two-hybrid system and performed functional identification for the obtained peptides. We got two positive clones out of 1.28x10(7) transformants. The peptides were sequenced and synthesized. Protein sequence comparison confirmed that the two peptides had no homologous proteins. The two peptides were found to significantly inhibit LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation in HEK-293 cells that were transfected with TLR4 cDNA, LPS-induced IkappaBalpha (IkappaB alpha) phosphorylation and NF-kappaB activation in monocytes, and release of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha by monocytes. We further confirmed that the No. 9 peptide could bind to TLR4 extracellular domain, but the No. 24 peptide could not, suggesting that two novel peptides were identified as the antagonists of TLR4, which significantly inhibited the effects of endotoxin in vitro. The No. 9 peptide may function through binding to TLR4 extracellular domain. Our findings suggest a promising countermeasure against Gram-negative bacterium-induced sepsis.
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PMID:Novel TLR4-antagonizing peptides inhibit LPS-induced release of inflammatory mediators by monocytes. 1575 33

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear factor that is released extracellularly as a late mediator of lethality in sepsis as well as after necrotic, but not apoptotic, death. Here we demonstrate that in contrast to the delayed role of HMGB1 in the systemic inflammation of sepsis, HMGB1 acts as an early mediator of inflammation and organ damage in hepatic ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. HMGB1 levels were increased during liver I/R as early as 1 h after reperfusion and then increased in a time-dependent manner up to 24 h. Inhibition of HMGB1 activity with neutralizing antibody significantly decreased liver damage after I/R, whereas administration of recombinant HMGB1 worsened I/R injury. Treatment with neutralizing antibody was associated with less phosphorylation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase and higher nuclear factor-kappaB DNA binding in the liver after I/R. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-defective (C3H/Hej) mice exhibited less damage in the hepatic I/R model than did wild-type (C3H/HeOuj) mice. Anti-HMGB1 antibody failed to provide protection in C3H/Hej mice, but successfully reduced damage in C3H/Ouj mice. Together, these results demonstrate that HMGB1 is an early mediator of injury and inflammation in liver I/R and implicates TLR4 as one of the receptors that is involved in the process.
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PMID:The nuclear factor HMGB1 mediates hepatic injury after murine liver ischemia-reperfusion. 1579 40

The innate immune system recognises a wide spectrum of pathogens without a need for prior exposure. The main cells responsible are monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells (DC) and neutrophils phagocytose microbial pathogens triggering a cytokine network resulting in the development of inflammatory and specific immune responses. Findings in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, initially discovered in Drosophila, further elucidated these processes. Toll-like receptors induce activation of an innate immune response and at present ten TLRs have been identified, named TLRs 1-10. In addition to the ignition of the innate immune response, evidence implicates the TLR family in a spectrum of systemic disorders following bacterial infections including sepsis and multiple organ failure, and can be detrimental, leading to tissue injury. In this project, our main goal was to investigate the effects of a TLR4 ligand, lipolysaccharide (LPS) in human DC and monocytes. Our hypothesis is that different professional APCs, express different mRNA TLR transcripts. Our findings indicate that TLR expression patterns change in relation to the pathogen involved and in the case of DC, and the maturation stage the latter are upon challenging. Our results and interpretation showed significant alteration of transcript expression patterns upon LPS challenge in all cell subsets, with DC subsets expressing different TLR mRNA patterns as they go through different maturation stages.
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PMID:Toll-like receptor mRNA expression patterns in human dendritic cells and monocytes. 1582 87

Sepsis is a complex clinical syndrome that results from a harmful host response to infection, in which foreign bacteria and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are potent activators of different immune cells, including monocytes and macrophages. To date, there are currently few effective adjuvant therapies in clinical use except activated protein C focusing on the coagulation system. Mastoparans (MPs) are wasp venom cationic amphiphilic tetradecapeptides; these are capable of modulating various cellular activities, including stimulation of GTP-binding protein, phospholipase C and can bind to a phospholipid bilayer. Masroparan-1 (MP-1, INLKAIAALAKKLL-NH2), a tetradecapeptide toxin isolated from hornet venom, was synthesized chemically. In this study, Escherichia coli 25922 (E. coli 25922) and LPS were used to induce sepsis in an animal model. We found that MP-1 treatment at 3 mg/kg protected mice from otherwise lethal bacteria and LPS challenges. MP-1 has antibacterial capabilities against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Its antibacterial action against E. coli may result from the destruction of bacterial membrane structures. In addition, treatment of murine peritoneal macrophages with MP-1 potently inhibited the respiratory burst. This effect maybe related to an inhibition of NADPH oxidase in the membrane. Furthermore, MP-1, bound with high-affinity to LPS and lipid A with dissociation equilibrium constants of 484 and 456 nM, respectively, and neutralized LPS in a dose-dependent manner. MP-1 also significantly reduced the expression of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA and the release of cytokines in LPS-stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages. Our results shows that the MP-1-mediated protection of mice from lethal challenge by live bacteria and LPS was associated with its bactericidal action and inhibition of inflammatory responses by macrophages to both bacteria and LPS (the release of cytokines and reactive oxygen species).
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PMID:A synthesized cationic tetradecapeptide from hornet venom kills bacteria and neutralizes lipopolysaccharide in vivo and in vitro. 1593 30

An important site of cellular damage in bacterial sepsis is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which we proposed is caused by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generated by activation of signaling through specific toll-like receptors (TLR). In wild-type (Wt) mice injected with heat-inactivated E. coli, hepatic TLR4 and TLR2 proteins were up-regulated with TLR-dependent increases in transcript levels for tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6, nitric oxide synthase-II (iNOS), and NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2). The accompanying stress significantly depleted hepatic mtDNA despite eight- and fourfold increases in manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) expression, respectively. The identical E. coli dose generated significantly less TNF-alpha, NO, and Nox2 in TLR4-/- and TLR2/4-/- but not in TLR2-/- mice. TLR4-/- and TLR2/4-/- compared with Wt mice were protected from mtDNA oxidation but showed no Tfam up-regulation and little copy number restoration. A critical role in the mtDNA damage was determined for TLR4-mediated iNOS transcription through the MyD88 pathway. In Wt mice, mtDNA depletion was avoided by selective iNOS blockade, and residual mtDNA loss was linked to NF-kappaB-dependent TNF-alpha expression. These data disclose the dual role of TLR4 in mtDNA damage and compensatory mitochondrial biogenic responses after innate immune activation.
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PMID:Toll-like receptor 4 mediates mitochondrial DNA damage and biogenic responses after heat-inactivated E. coli. 1599 12

Rapid overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines are characteristic of sepsis. CD14(dim)CD16(+) monocytes are thought to be major producers of cytokine and have been shown to be elevated in septic patients. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are pattern recognition receptors important in mediating the innate immune response and their activation can lead to production of cytokines. Using whole blood culture and flow cytometry we have investigated TLR2 and TLR4 regulation after stimulation with sepsis-relevant antigens [lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and peptidoglycan (PGN)]. The percentage of CD14(dim)CD16(+) monocyte population expanded at 20 h post-stimulation, after a rise in tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 at 2 h. A strong positive correlation between the percentage of CD14(dim)CD16(+) monocytes and secreted TNF-alpha was demonstrated (r = 0.72). Furthermore, we were able to induce expansion of the CD14(dim)CD16(+) population to approximately 35% of all monocytes with the addition of recombinant TNF-alpha to the whole blood culture. TLR4 was found to be expressed 2.5 times higher on CD14(dim)CD16(+) compared to CD14(+) CD16(-) monocytes, while TLR2 expression was similar in both subpopulations. The CD14(dim)CD16(+) and CD14(+) CD16(-) monocyte populations were different in their response to various antigens. LPS down-regulated TLR4 by 4.9 times in CD16(+) monocytes compared to only 2.3 times in CD16(-) monocytes at 2 h. LPS was able to up-regulate TLR2 by 6.2 times after 2 h, with no difference between the subpopulations. LPS further up-regulated TLR2 by 18.4 times after 20 h only in the CD14(+) CD16(-) population. PGN and SEB induced no significant changes in TLR2 or TLR4 expression. We hypothesize that following exposure to bacterial antigens, subsequent TNF-alpha drives a differentiation of monocytes into a CD14(dim)CD16(+) subpopulation.
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PMID:Regulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 on CD14dimCD16+ monocytes in response to sepsis-related antigens. 1599 91

Biglycan, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, is a ubiquitous ECM component; however, its biological role has not been elucidated in detail. Here we show that biglycan acts in macrophages as an endogenous ligand of TLR4 and TLR2, which mediate innate immunity, leading to rapid activation of p38, ERK, and NF-kappaB and thereby stimulating the expression of TNF-alpha and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2). In agreement, the stimulatory effects of biglycan are significantly reduced in TLR4-mutant (TLR4-M), TLR2-/-, and myeloid differentiation factor 88-/- (MyD88-/-) macrophages and completely abolished in TLR2-/-/TLR4-M macrophages. Biglycan-null mice have a considerable survival benefit in LPS- or zymosan-induced sepsis due to lower levels of circulating TNF-alpha and reduced infiltration of mononuclear cells in the lung, which cause less end-organ damage. Importantly, when stimulated by LPS-induced proinflammatory factors, macrophages themselves are able to synthesize biglycan. Thus, biglycan, upon release from the ECM or from macrophages, can boost inflammation by signaling through TLR4 and TLR2, thereby enhancing the synthesis of TNF-alpha and MIP-2. Our results provide evidence for what is, to our knowledge, a novel role of the matrix component biglycan as a signaling molecule and a crucial proinflammatory factor. These findings are potentially relevant for the development of new strategies in the treatment of sepsis.
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PMID:The matrix component biglycan is proinflammatory and signals through Toll-like receptors 4 and 2 in macrophages. 1602 56

Flagellin, the principal component of bacterial flagella, is a ligand for Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) or TLR11 and contributes to systemic inflammation during sepsis through activation of dendritic cells (DCs) and other cells of the innate immune system. Here, we report that flagellin and the TLR4 ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), induced phenotypic and functional maturation of murine bone marrow-derived DCs and enhanced DC accumulation in the draining popliteal lymph node following their footpad injection. It is interesting that flagellin injection enhanced myeloid (CD8alpha(-1)) and plasmacytoid (plasmacytoid DC antigen(+) B220(+)) DC subsets, whereas LPS only increased myeloid DCs in the draining lymph node. In addition, the footpad injection of flagellin or LPS induced significant CD4(+) T cell activation in the draining popliteal lymph node, as judged by increased CD69 or CD25 expression. We illustrate, for the first time, that flagellin also increases natural killer (NK) cell number and activation status in the draining lymph node after footpad injection. Using coculture with enriched carboxy-fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester-labeled NK cells, flagellin-treated DCs induce significant NK cell proliferation and activation. In fact, direct treatment of NK cells with flagellin induces a greater increase in cell proliferation than treatment with LPS. In contrast, flagellin treatment of NK cells was not a strong inducer of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production, indicating that NK cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production may be regulated differentially. These data suggest that flagellin is a capable maturation agent for murine myeloid-derived DCs, and flagellin-activated DCs and flagellin itself are potent inducers of NK cell proliferation.
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PMID:Flagellin enhances NK cell proliferation and activation directly and through dendritic cell-NK cell interactions. 1603 15

Sepsis is a clinical syndrome resulting from a systemic inflammatory response to infection. Genetic factors may be important risk factors for sepsis. The present study determines whether the most frequent polymorphism of NOD2, a cytosol sensor of peptidoglycan, are independent risk factors for nosocomial sepsis. 80 sepsis patients and 90 unmatched controls admitted to the Campus Bio-Medico School of Medicine Hospital in Rome were studied. NOD2 polymorphisms were determined by Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) PCR, while TLR4 polymorphisms were determined by Allele-Specific PCR. 25% of sepsis patients and 7.77% of controls had NOD2 mutations. This resulted in an Odds Ratio (OR) of 3.95 for sepsis and NOD2 mutation patients and in an OR of 4.26 adjusting for cancer incidence and age in a logistic model. NOD2 mutations are an independent risk factor for nosocomial sepsis. The present study has shown, for the first time, the association between NOD2 mutations and sepsis, and it has determined NOD2 essential part of the innate immunity response to bacteria.
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PMID:[Nosocomial sepsis and polymorphism of the NOD-2 gene]. 1608 Jun 53


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