Others have also reported that the TLR3 signaling pathway is dysregulated in elderly humans.29 TLR3 signaling evokes IL-6 production,30 and it initiates innate immunity and facilitates adaptive immunity by promoting maturation of dendritic cells.30,31 It is reasonable to hypothesize that dysregulation of the IL-6 and TLR3 signaling pathways renders men more susceptible than women to bacterial and viral infections; conversely, in long-lived men, altered IL-6 and TLR3 signaling pathways may provide greater protection against these challenges.32 This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and viral infectious disease.