Toll-like receptors as therapeutic targets in cystic fibrosis.
BACKGROUND
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors that act as a first-line of defence in the innate immune response by recognising and responding to conserved molecular patterns in microbial factors and endogenous danger signals. Cystic fibrosis (CF)-affected airways represent a milieu potentially rich in TLR agonists and the chronic inflammatory phenotype evident in CF airway epithelial cells is probably due in large part to activation of TLRs.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the prospects of developing novel therapies for CF by targeting TLRs. We outline the expression and function of TLRs and explore the therapeutic potential of naturally-occurring and synthetic TLR inhibitors for CF.


CONCLUSIONS
Modulation of TLRs has therapeutic potential for the inflammatory lung manifestations of CF.
Greene
Catherine M
CM
Beaumont Hospital, Education and Research Centre, Respiratory Research Division, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 9 Dublin, Ireland. cmgreene@rcsi.ie
Branagan
Peter
P
McElvaney
Noel G
NG
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015195:Drug Design; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors