title: Potential link between the immune system and metabolism of nucleic acids.
abstract: During microbial infection and tissue injury, nucleic acids and their metabolites, such as nucleotides, nucleosides and uric acids, can be released from dying host cells and may modify immune responses. These nucleic acids and/or their metabolites are in fact recognized by specific host receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-like receptors (RLRs) and NOD-like receptors (NLRs), purinergic receptors such as P2X and P2Y receptors, and adenosine receptors such as A2A receptors. The resultant responses may vary depending on the balance between immune responses to and metabolism of nucleic acids, thereby contributing not only to the host defense, but also to the homeostatic clearance of host dying cells, or even to deleterious autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Protozoology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. sakira@biken.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ken J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Shizuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053472:Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053472:Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases