Toll-like receptor 4 expression on circulating leucocytes in hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Lipopolysaccharide stimulation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activates signal transduction pathways leading to proinflammatory cytokine secretion. We investigated TLR4 surface receptor expression on peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes and their ability to modulate inflammatory cytokine release in 15 patients 1, 3, and 10 days after hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) onset. Seven patients with Escherichia coli (EHEC)-associated diarrhea and seven healthy controls were also studied.