title: Toll-like receptors are potential therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are found on the membranes of pattern recognition receptors and not only play important roles in activating immune responses but are also involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease, injury and cancer. Furthermore, TLRs are also able to recognize endogenous alarmins released by damaged tissue and necrosis and/or apoptotic cells and are present in numerous autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the release of endogenous TLR ligands plays an important role in initiating and driving inflammatory diseases. Increasing data suggest a role for TLR signaling in rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease. Although their involvement is not comprehensively understood, the TLRs signaling transducers may provide potential therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Siamak Sandoghchian Shotorbani, Zhao-Liang Su, Hua-Xi Xu, Department of Immunology, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Siamak Sandoghchian
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shotorbani
authors.forename: Zhao-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Hua-Xi
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Xu