Lipopolysaccharide appears to activate human endometrial endothelial cells through TLR-4-dependent and TLR-4-independent mechanisms.

Problem: Uterine innate immunity remains poorly characterized, and while endometrial endothelial cells are known to express Toll-like receptors (TLRs), little is known about their function in these cells. The present study evaluated the effect of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on human endometrial endothelial cell (HEECs) cytokine secretion and tissue factor expression, and the role of TLR-4 in these responses.

Methods: Human endometrial endothelial cells were treated with or without LPS ± LPS-RS, a TLR-4 antagonist, via the binding of MD-2.

Interconnection of a two-dimensional array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers to a receiver array by means of a fiber image guide.

The implementation of a 10-channel parallel optical interconnect consisting of a two-dimensional array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, a 1.35-m fiber image guide, and a metal-semiconductor-metal receiver array is described. Transmission rates of 250 Mbits/s per channel are demonstrated with an optical cross talk of less than -27 dB and a loss of -3 dB.