Figure 4. TLR4 deficiency reduces local pro-inflammatory cytokine expression but does not affect bacterial clearance.

(A–C) TNF-α and IL-1β levels were significantly reduced in TLR4−/−mice compared with WT and TLR2−/− mice, while there was no significant difference between WT and TLR2−/− mice. IL-10 expression in the three mouse groups was similar at 3days,7days, and 6 weeks postoperatively. Bacterial loads (C) and antimicrobial peptide, iNOS, and BD-2 expression (D–E) were detected in the two groups based on bacterial plate counts and real-time PCR, respectively. Data are presented as the means ± SEM and represent two independent experiments, each with 5 animals per group.