Fueling the Fire in Acute Kidney Injury: Endothelial Cells Collect Their Toll

摘要

Chen et al. demonstrate endothelial expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the outer medulla of the kidney early in the course of ischemic acute kidney injury. Furthermore, they provide data that support the hypothesis that activation of the endothelial TLR4 receptor in the early extension phase of AKI by damage associated molecular pattern molecules released from injured tubules results in endothelial activation. This activation can serve to amplify inflammation and tubular damage.