title: The role of toll-like receptors in herpes simplex infection in neonates.
abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs)--and their associated signal-transducing proteins--on the surface of cells have been demonstrated to account for most, if not all, of the events associated with bacterial sepsis. Using human cells expressing different TLRs, we demonstrated that the interaction between TLR2 and herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1-2 leads to the production of cytokines. Using peripheral-blood mononuclear cells, we tested the ability of cells from people of different age groups to make cytokines in response to HSV. An examination of the host responses of neonates to HSV indicates that, rather than producing less interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in response to HSV than adults do, neonates produce more of these cytokines than adults do. This may explain the sepsis syndrome that is seen with HSV (and other virus infections) in neonates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Evelyn A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kurt-Jones
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belko
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Newburger
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Knipe
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Finberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors