The emerging role of toll-like receptor pathways in surgical diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To outline the emerging significance of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways in surgical diseases.


METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was undertaken by searching the MEDLINE database for the period 1966 to 2005 without language restriction.


METHODS
Original or review articles that described experimental data on the activation of TLR signaling pathways in surgically relevant diseases were selected for inclusion in this review.


METHODS
Data were obtained from peer-reviewed articles and references.


RESULTS
The role of TLRs in the recognition of pathogens renders them a key figure in the activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses during sepsis. However, emerging evidence points to fundamentally important roles in ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease, and Helicobacter pylori infection in the gastrointestinal tract and in the development of atherosclerotic plaques in the cardiovascular system. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that the regulation of the TLR pathway fulfills a central role in anticancer immunotherapy and in organ rejection after transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the clinical significance of TLR pathways, the targeting of individual molecular components is likely to offer a broad range of future therapeutic modalities.
Romics
Laszlo
L
Department of Surgery, Cork University Hospital, National University of Ireland, Cork.
Szabo
Gyongyi
G
Coffey
John Calvin
JC
Wang
Jiang Huai
JH
Redmond
Henry Paul
HP
D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000502:physiology*
D051193:Toll-Like Receptors