title: Toll-like receptors and acquired immunity.
abstract: Toll-like receptors are a family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that evolved to detect microbial infection. These receptors recognize conserved molecular products derived from different classes of microorganisms, including Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Following recognition of ligands TLRs initiate signaling events that result in acute innate responses. In addition, TLRs are responsible for initiation of adaptive immune responses against pathogen-derived antigens primarily through triggering dendritic cell activation. Control of adaptive immunity by TLRs is a complex phenomenon and much needs to be understood about how different TLRs tailor the outcome of adaptive immune responses to the advantage of the host. Although TLRs have evolved to induce protective immune responses, under some circumstances, activation of these receptors may lead to autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar Street, TAC S660, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. chandrashekhar@yale.edu
authors.forename: Chandrashekhar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasare
authors.forename: Ruslan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medzhitov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors