Neisseria meningitidis can induce pro-inflammatory cytokine production via pathways independent from CD14 and toll-like receptor 4.

Fulminant meningococcal sepsis (FMS) is considered the prototypical Gram-negative sepsis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is thought to be the main toxic element that induces pro-inflammatory cytokine production after interaction with CD14 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). However, there is increasing evidence that LPS is not the sole toxic element of meningococci.