TLR3 activation increases voluntary alcohol consumption

Emerging evidence suggests that activation of neuroimmune pathways (i.e. toll-like receptor pathway) can regulate chronic ethanol consumption. TLRs initiate pro- and anti-inflammatory responses via two intracellular signaling transduction cascades: (1) MyD88-dependent and (2) TRIF-dependent pathways. All TLRs signal through MyD88 except TLR3, which can signal through both pathways. Previously our lab has shown that activation of MyD88-dependent signaling with lipopolysaccharide increases voluntary ethanol consumption and preference in mice.

Source: Alcohol - May 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: Anna S. Warden, Adriana DaCosta, Yuri A. Blednov, R. Dayne Mayfield, R. Adron Harris Source Type: research