TLR4 blocking peptide

Bacterial meningitis (BM) is a severe disease caused by various bacterial pathogens. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) protect humans from invading pathogens. In this study, we determined whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) ofTLR4andTLR9are associated with susceptibility to and outcome of BM in Angolan children. Samples were taken from 241 patients and 265 age-matched ethnic controls. The SNPsTLR4rs4986790 (896A > G) andTLR9rs187084 (-1486T > C) were determined by high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA). The frequency of variant genotypes inTLR4was significantly higher in patients withHaemophilus influenzaemeningitis than controls (odds ratio (OR), 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-5.4;p= 0.021), whereas the frequency of variant genotypes inTLR9was significantly lower in patients withH. influenzaemeningitis than controls (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.9;p= 0.036). No such differences were found with other causative pathogens, such asStreptococcus pneumoniaeandNeisseria meningitidis. At the time of discharge, patients with meningitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria who were carriers of variantTLR4genotypes had a higher risk of ataxia (OR, 12.91; 95% CI, 1.52-109.80;p= 0.019) and other neurological sequelae (OR, 11.85; 95% CI, 1.07-131.49;p= 0.044) than those with the wild-typeTLR4genotype. Our study suggests an association betweenH. influenzaemeningitis and genetic variation betweenTLR4andTLR9in Angolan children.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is closely related to neuro-inflammatory response and causes a complex pathological process and serious consequence. In this study, we explored whether the formatted citrus peel extract gold lotion (GL) could have a therapeutic effect on rats suffered TBI. TBI rat model was prepared by the electric Cortical Contusion Impactor (eCCI) device. Prevention against TBI by GL was assessed by the behavioral, organizational of rats and the molecular markers in the brain injury area. The results showed that GL could reduce nerve damage and neurological dysfunction. The mechanisms probably due to that GL could not only reduce the associated damage markers including GFAP, OX-42, TNF-alpha, COX-2, NF-kappa B and TLR4 but also promote the expression of VEGF which is responsible for protecting neuronal cells in the injury area. These findings revealed that GL could be a promising preparation for TBI prevention. (c) 2020 "Society information". Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAiCommunications Co., Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).