title: Toll-like receptors as therapeutic targets in cystic fibrosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Beaumont Hospital, Education and Research Centre, Respiratory Research Division, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 9 Dublin, Ireland. cmgreene@rcsi.ie
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Branagan
authors.forename: Noel G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: McElvaney
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors