HPX and infection: The findings that heme and hemoglobin synergize with TLR agonists, bacteria and HMGB1 to amplify inflammation and this synergy is suppressed by Hx [3,5,8] raise the possibility of using Hx as a treatment in settings where free heme may be present in plasma or tissues in the presence of infection, especially in situations in which endogenous Hx is depleted.