The results of this study highlighted the role of TLR4 in controlling A. actinomycetemcomitans infection.

The results of this study highlight the involvement of TLR2 in recognizing A. actinomycetemcomitans and its essential role in controlling A. actinomycetemcomitans infection.

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AimsThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of laser photobiomodulation in the prevention of oral mucositis (OM), salivary hypofunction and referred pain in patients with head and neck cancer.Methods and resultsThis randomized clinical study divided patients into two groups: the laser group (LG, n = 30) and the control group (CG, n = 24). The LG (InGaAlP, 660 nm, 86.7 mW, 2 J/cm2) participated in the preventive protocol, while the CG underwent a simulated procedure without light emission. The degree of OM, salivary flow, and referred pain were evaluated at five different periods of radiotherapy. Both groups showed a significant increase in the degree of OM (P < .01). Regarding OM, salivary flow, and oral pain, there were no significant differences between the groups.ConclusionsThe laser photobiomodulation protocol used in this study was not effective in preventing radiochemotherapy‐induced OM, salivary hypofunction, and referred pain in patients with head and neck cancer. Notably, although the development of OM did not differ significantly according to the use of laser therapy, the severity of oral mucositis was reduced in patients who underwent laser therapy compared to that in patients who did not.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen, which causes local and/or disseminated diseases in immunosuppressed humans. Phagocytic cells play a critical role in the immune response against C. albicans. Toll like receptors (TLR) are important in the identification of invading microorganisms and in the regulation of neutrophil survival. TLR2 has been shown to participate in the response against pathogenic yeasts and to increase the functional life span of neutrophils. In view of these observations, we studied the involvement of TLR2 in neutrophil function after C. albicans infection. The absence of TLR2 resulted in lower chemotaxis of neutrophils to the site of infection. This in turn was associated with lower levels of chemokines from neutrophils, facilitating the dissemination of the pathogen to the lymph nodes and spleen. A high frequency of apoptotic neutrophils and macrophages in the inflammatory exudates from TLR2(-/-) mice was found. In addition, the phagocytic activity of neutrophils and macrophages, nitric oxide production and myeloperoxidase activity were diminished in cells from TLR2(-/-) mice. Together, these data demonstrate the importance of TLR2 signals for neutrophils activation and survival after C. albicans infection.