Toll-Like Receptors Dysregulation after Influenza Virus Infection: Insights into Pathogenesis of Subsequent Bacterial Pneumonia
Figure 1
TLR downregulation leads to decreased bacterial clearance. (a) During normal response, TLR 2, 4, 5 on dendritic cells in the lung recognize bacterial ligands, leading to a signaling cascade that results in cytokine production. These cytokines increase neutrophil migration into the respiratory tract with subsequent decline in bacterial burden. (b) Postinfluenza infection-decreased TLR expression leads to decreased cytokine production, which in turn reduces chemotaxis of neutrophils into the lung with a resulting increase in bacterial burden.
