title: Editorial: toll-like receptor expression in irritable bowel syndrome: on the alert for a microbial threat?
abstract: Evidence suggests that mucosal and luminal factors, including low-grade immune activation, increased mucosal permeability and altered host-microbiota interactions, contribute to IBS pathophysiology. In this issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, Brint and colleagues provide the first evidence of increased expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in patients with IBS. TLRs are known to be involved in the translation of bacterial signals into anti-bacterial innate immune responses. These results hold promise for a better understanding of the role of microbiota and immune activation in the pathophysiology of IBS and also provide novel pharmacological targets for this common troublesome disorder.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbara
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051193:Toll-Like Receptors