Toll-like receptors: a novel target for therapeutic intervention in intestinal and hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury?
BACKGROUND
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are transmembrane proteins that act mainly as sensors of microbes, orchestrating an organism's defense against infections, while they sense also host tissue injury by recognizing products of dying cells. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) represents one of these tissue damage states in which TLR-mediated mechanisms might be implicated.


METHODS
The most recent data on TLR signaling and the latest knowledge regarding the involvement of TLRs in the pathogenesis and progression of intestinal and hepatic IRI are presented. The potential effectiveness of TLR-modulating therapy in intestinal and liver IRI is also analyzed.


RESULTS
A comprehensive summary of the data suggesting TLR involvement in intestinal and hepatic IRI. Knowledge required for developing TLR modulation strategies against intestinal and hepatic IRI.


CONCLUSIONS
TLRS play a significant role in both intestinal and hepatic IRI pathophysiology. Better understanding of TLR involvement in such processes may enable the invention of novel TLR-based therapies for IRI in the intestine and liver.
Vasileiou
Ioanna
I
University of Athens, Medical School, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Athens, Greece. theocharis@ath.forthnet.gr
Kostopanagiotou
Georgia
G
Katsargyris
Athanasios
A
Klonaris
Chris
C
Perrea
Despina
D
Theocharis
Stamatios
S
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D051193:Toll-Like Receptors