Unleashing the therapeutic potential of NOD-like receptors.
Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are a family of intracellular sensors that have key roles in innate immunity and inflammation. Whereas some NLRs - including NOD1, NOD2, NAIP (NLR family, apoptosis inhibitory protein) and NLRC4 - detect conserved bacterial molecular signatures within the host cytosol, other members of this family sense 'danger signals', that is, xenocompounds or molecules that when recognized alert the immune system of hazardous environments, perhaps independently of a microbial trigger. In the past few years, remarkable progress has been made towards deciphering the role and the biology of NLRs, which has shown that these innate immune sensors have pivotal roles in providing immunity to infection, adjuvanticity and inflammation. Furthermore, several inflammatory disorders have been associated with mutations in human NLRgenes. Here, we discuss the effect that research on NLRs will have on vaccination, treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders and acute bacterial infections.
Geddes
Kaoru
K
Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Magalhães
João G
JG
Girardin
Stephen E
SE
D000818:Animals; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008024:Ligands; D053472:Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053474:Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008024:Ligands; C119067:NOD1 protein, human; C429018:NOD2 protein, human; D053472:Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D053474:Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein