title: Toll-like receptors and their role in host resistance to Toxoplasma gondii.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii and other apicomplexan parasites are widely distributed obligate intracellular protozoa. A critical host mediator produced in response to T. gondii infection is IL-12. This cytokine is synthesized by dendritic cells, macrophages and neutrophils and plays a pivotal role in the production of IFN-gamma, which in turn activates anti-microbial effector cells. In the past several years, many of the receptors and signaling pathways that link pathogen detection to induction of IL-12 have been identified and characterized. Among these receptors the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family can recognize all classes of pathogens and induce different types of immune responses. In the following review, I summarize the evidence for specific TLR function in host resistance to T. gondii.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9093, United States. Felix.Yarovinsky@UTSouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yarovinsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D018664:Interleukin-12