TLR3 and viral infectious disease: In the NI models groups, in order to mimic viral and bacterial infections we administered the following agents: POLY I:C (polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid), a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) which is a molecular pattern associated with viral infections that stimulates the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) pathway; LPS (lipopolysaccharides), a component of the outer membrane of bacteria that also stimulates TLRs; and the cytokines IL-6 (Interleukin-6) and IFN-α (interferon-alpha).