title: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in innate immune defense against Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the most important class of innate pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) by which host immune and non-immune cells are able to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Most mammalian species have 10 to 15 types of TLRs. TLRs are believed to function as homo- or hetero-dimers. TLR2, which plays a crucial role in recognizing PAMPs from Staphylococcus aureus, forms heterodimers with TLR1 or TLR6 and each dimer has a different ligand specificity. Staphylococcal lipoproteins, Panton-Valentine toxin and Phenol Soluble Modulins have been identified as potent TLR2 ligands. Conversely, the ligand function attributed to peptidoglycan and LTA remains controversial. TLR2 uses a MyD88-dependent signaling pathway that results in NF-kB translocation into the nucleus and activation of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. Recognition rouses both an inflammatory response, culminating in the phagocytosis of bacteria, and an adaptive immune response, with the presentation of resulting bacterial compounds to T cells. Here, recent advances on the recognition of S. aureus by TLRs are presented and discussed, as well as the new therapeutic opportunities deriving from this new knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pietrocola
authors.forename: Carla Renata
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Arciola
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rindi
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Poto
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Missineo
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montanaro
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Speziale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D058847:Inflammasomes; D008024:Ligands; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors