TLR7 and infection: Consistent with the presence of cryptic infections, cytoplasmic pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) receptors (RIG-1, TLR3, TLR7, HMGB1, NOD1, and NLRP3) were upregulated in diabetic kidneys positive for HCMV and/or bacterial DNA (Fig. 3b, and 4a, c).