Herpes simplex virus induces neural oxidative damage via microglial cell Toll-like receptor-2

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that HSV-induced neural cell oxidative tissue damage and cytotoxicity are mediated by microglial cell ROS through a TLR2-dependent mechanism. We detected elevated intracellular ROS in HSV-infected microglia obtained from wild-type mice. In contrast, the virus failed to induce ROS in microglia obtained from TLR2-/- mice. Additionally, compared to wild-type microglia, TLR2-/- microglia displayed attenuated HSV-induced lipid peroxidation and neurotoxicity. These studies demonstrate the importance of microglial cell TLR2 in inducing oxidative stress and neuronal damage in response to viral infection.

CiteULike: Herpes simplex virus induces neural oxidative damage via microglial cell Toll-like receptor-2: "Schachtele, S., Hu, S., Little, M., and Lokensgard, J. (2010). Herpes simplex virus induces neural oxidative damage via microglial cell toll-like receptor-2. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 7(1):35+."

Note: If high fat diets (HFD) influence the expression of TLR2 - one could assume that HFD may augment inflammatory responses. Diets that are lower in fat such as a typical Mediterranean Diet may reduce these inflammatory mediators and reduce symptoms. Other studies show that high glucose diets may also induce TLR expression (Dasu) and there is evidence that TR2 is necessary for development of the metabolic syndrome which makes one at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes (Himes).

For Further Reading: ImmunoGenetics in Autism, MCS and Cancer -- What Has Food Got To Do With It!

HEIRS Library Tags: TLR2


Dasu, M. R., Devaraj, S., Zhao, L., Hwang, D. H., and Jialal, I. (2008). High glucose induces toll-like receptor expression in human monocytes. Diabetes, 57(11):3090-3098.
http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/3207456
Himes, R. W. and Smith, C. W. (2009). Tlr2 is critical for diet-induced metabolic syndrome in a murine model. The FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/6002948
Schachtele, S., Hu, S., Little, M., and Lokensgard, J. (2010). Herpes simplex virus induces neural oxidative damage via microglial cell toll-like receptor-2. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 7(1):35+.
http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/7366356
Lee, J. Y., Zhao, L., Youn, H. S., Weatherill, A. R., Tapping, R., Feng, L., Lee, W. H., Fitzgerald, K. A., and Hwang, D. H. (2004). Saturated fatty acid activates but polyunsaturated fatty acid inhibits toll-like receptor 2 dimerized with toll-like receptor 6 or 1. The Journal of biological chemistry, 279(17):16971-16979.
http://www.citeulike.org/user/HEIRS/article/3328606