title: Targeting Toll-like receptors for treatment of SLE.
abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important innate immune receptors for the identification and clearance of invading pathogens. Twelve TLRs that recognize various conserved components of microorganisms are currently known. Among these, the endosomal TLRs 3, 7/8, and 9 recognize dsRNA, ssRNA, and CpG DNA, respectively. Nucleic acid-sensing TLRs, TLR 7 in particular, have been implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are thought to exacerbate disease pathology. Activation of these TLRs results in the production of inflammatory cytokines and type I interferon. Genome-wide association studies, single nucleotide polymorphism analyses as well as experimental mouse models have provided evidence of TLR signaling involvement in SLE and other autoimmune diseases. Since activation of these receptor pathways promotes autoimmune phenotypes, inhibitory drugs that target these pathways constitute important new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of systemic autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: Zi-jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: A Darise
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Farris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051193:Toll-Like Receptors