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Figure 1 | Critical Care

Figure 1

From: Science review: Key inflammatory and stress pathways in critical illness – the central role of the Toll-like receptors

Figure 1

The relationship between Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and IL-1. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) produced in response to signals traversing TLR4 (or other TLRs) stimulates the transcription of inflammatory cytokine genes, including TNF and IL-1. The cytokines that are produced, in turn, trigger receptors that also activate NF-κB, via Toll/IL-1/resistance (TIR) domain containing receptors (in the case of IL-1) or TNF-family receptors (in the case of TNF). Hence, there is the potential for an amplification loop, dampened by feedback inhibition of the TLR4 pathway (endotoxin tolerance). IL-1R, IL-1 receptor; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; RIP, receptor interacting protein; TNFR, TNF receptor.

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Critical Care

ISSN: 1364-8535