Eritoran, a synthetic TLR4 antagonist, has been found to prevent influenza-induced lethality in mice, reducing lung pathology, clinical symptoms, cytokine and oxidized phospholipid expression, and viral titres.
Influenza, and in particular new pandemic strains, can cause acute lung injury by provoking an extreme immune response. Using Eritoran to block TLR signalling represents a novel approach for reducing inflammation and injury associated with influenza, and possibly other infections.