Erratum: Toll-like receptor 4 expression during cerebral aneurysm formation

Abstract

Object The pathophysiological origin of cerebral aneurysms is closely associated with chronic inflammation in arterial walls. Recently, the authors identified nuclear factor–kappa B (NF-κB) as a key mediator of cerebral aneurysm formation and progression. Because Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) stimulates NF-κB activation in arterial walls in atherosclerosis, the authors hypothesize that TLR4 expresses in cerebral aneurysms and contributes to the activation of NF-κB in cerebral aneurysm walls. Methods Cerebral aneurysms were induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Expression of TLRs in cerebral aneurysm walls was assessed using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of TLR4 was examined using RT-PCR, immunohistochemical studies, and Western blotting. To assess TLR4 dependency on NF-κB activation, double immunostaining and a study using NF-κB–deficient mice were done. Finally, TLR4 expression in human cerebral aneurysm walls was assessed using immunohistochemical studies. Results...