TLR4 and periodontitis: The finding that plasma insulin levels were increased in GFPWT:WT chimeras with periodontitis and not in GFPWT:KO chimeras whereas LPS levels in plasma were elevated in both these chimeras with LPS application suggests that, in addition to its role in promoting IR in the liver, TLR4 may also play a role in promoting insulin secretion in periodontitis.