How Dysbiosis Disrupts Hormonal Health, Ovulation, and Egg Quality From the Inside Out — section

This matters because granulosa cells express Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). When circulating LPS binds to TLR4 on granulosa cells, it activates the TLR4/MyD88/NF-&#954;B signaling cascade. This is not a benign immune signal. It transforms the follicular microenvironment into a localized inflammatory compartment. NF-&#954;B activation induces production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-&#945; and IL-1&#946; directly within the follicle.