TLR4 and gastritis: TLR4, TLR5 and TLR9 have been histologically localized in patients with non-inflamed gastric mucosa and in Hp-related gastritis [12,13], and an upregulation of TLR2 and TLR4 has been reported in the gastric antral region more than in the gastric body; this may be influenced by the stimulatory effect of the colonization of H. pylori [14], and these changes in TLR abundance can be also observed during the progressive transformation from metaplasia to dysplasia [15]; however, in advanced malignant lesions, the TLR expression seems to be diminished [16].