title: Toll-like receptor 4 is not involved in host defense against respiratory tract infection with Sendai virus.
abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLR) induce innate immune responses upon stimulation by a wide variety of pathogens. TLR4 has been implicated in innate immunity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by an interaction with the viral envelope fusion (F) protein. Sendai virus (mouse parainfluenza type 1) shares many features with RSV, including a structurally and functionally similar F protein. To determine the role of TLR4 in host defense against Sendai virus respiratory tract infection, TLR4 mutant and wildtype mice were intranasally infected with Sendai virus. Sendai infection resulted in an increase in viral RNA copies in lung homogenates peaking on day 4. Pulmonary viral loads, histopathology, cytokine levels and leukocyte influx were similar in TLR4 mutant and wildtype mice. In spite of the structural similarities shared by the F proteins of Sendai virus and RSV, TLR4 is not involved in host defense against respiratory tract infection with Sendai virus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Internal Medicine, Room G2-130, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Koenraad F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: van der Sluijs
authors.forename: Leontine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Elden
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nijhuis
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schuurman
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Florquin
authors.forename: Henk M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lutter
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Poll
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029082:Sendai virus / Q000276:immunology*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors