Regulation of dendritic cell function through toll-like receptors.
Higher animals establish host defense by orchestrating innate and adaptive immunity. This is mediated by professional antigen presenting cells, i.e. dendritic cells (DCs). DCs can incorporate pathogens, produce a variety of cytokines, maturate, and present pathogen-derived peptides to T cells, thereby inducing T cell activation and differentiation. These responses are triggered by microbial recognition through type I transmembrane proteins, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on DCs. TLRs consist of ten members and each TLR is involved in recognizing a variety of microorganism-derived molecular structures. TLR ligands include cell wall components, proteins, nucleic acids, and synthetic chemical compounds, all of which can activate DCs as immune adjuvants.
Kaisho
Tsuneyasu
T
Department of Host Defense, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Akira
Shizuo
S
D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors