title: Role of Toll-like receptors in the development of immunotolerance mediated by probiotics.
abstract: Commensal bacteria are important in intestinal homeostasis and appear to play a role in early tolerance to foreign antigens. The requirement for homeostatic balance between tolerance and immunity poses a unique regulatory challenge to mucosal immune systems. Dysregulation of this balance can contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases. The primary response to these bacteria is triggered by pattern recognition receptors (PRR), which bind pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP). PRR comprise Toll-like receptors (TLR), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domains, adhesion molecules and lectins. Probiotics are living commensal micro-organisms of the intestinal tract with clinically documented health effects in human subjects. They are known to affect the gastrointestinal tract and the associated immune system and to have numerous effects on intestinal function and immune responses, including immunotolerance. This last effect appears to be mediated via regulatory T-cell activation by intestinal dendritic cells and the low activation of T-helper 1 and 2 (Th1 and Th2) cell inflammatory responses. However, the precise mechanisms of probiotic activity remain poorly understood. The aim of the present work was to review the function of TLR in the development of immunotolerance and examine the specific role of probiotics in the regulation of tolerance to antigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Centre of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. Conocimiento s/n, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez-Llorente
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors