title: Toll-like Receptors in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
abstract: Toll-like receptors belong to the pattern recognition receptors family present on a variety of immune cells including normal and malignant B-cells. They act as immediate molecular sentinels of innate immunity but also act as a molecular bridge between the innate and the adaptive immune response; distinct Toll-like receptors are able to bind specific pattern molecules of bacteria, viruses and autoantigens. In this review we will briefly introduce the Toll-like receptor family and their expression pattern, signaling and function in the B cell context; following we will summarize the published data on TLR in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and we will discuss their emerging role in the modulation of leukemia pathobiology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Oncology, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muzio
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fonte
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caligaris-Cappio