In this study we assessed TLR-4 mRNA levels because they were suggested to play a role during sleep loss in the activation of the NF-κB transcription pathway and the subsequent cellular expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines [11, 12], because we found increase of their whole-blood mRNA levels after total sleep deprivation in men [13], and also because treadmill training was demonstrated to reduce the overexpression of TLR-4 in rat brain tissue after ischemia and promoted functional recovery [25]. This evidence concerns the gene TLR4 and ischemia.