Activation of the innate immune system in atherosclerotic disease.
Innate immunity is the first line of defence against invading micro-organisms. The family of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognizes pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are carried by the invading micro-organisms. Infectious pathogens have been implicated to play an important role in atherosclerosis. Nowadays, evidence is accumulating that TLRs play an important role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis too. A lot is known about the exogenous ligands that are able to activate the TLRs, but it is also known that endogenous ligands have the capacity to activate TLRs when exogenous ligands are absent. Studies on knockout mice, epidemiological studies and even human polymorphism studies confirmed the important role of TLRs in development and progression of atherosclerotic disease. Studies with antagonists against TLR ligands and vaccination studies demonstrated that TLR signaling might be a potential target for intervention in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis.
Oude Nijhuis
M M
MM
Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Heart Lung Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Keulen
J K
JK
Pasterkamp
G
G
Quax
P H
PH
de Kleijn
D P V
DP
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008024:Ligands; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014612:Vaccines