title: Lipoteichoic acids as a major virulence factor causing inflammatory responses via Toll-like receptor 2.
abstract: Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a major cell wall component of Gram-positive bacteria, is associated with various inflammatory diseases ranging from minor skin diseases to severe sepsis. It is known that LTA is recognized by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), leading to the initiation of innate immune responses and further development of adaptive immunity. However, excessive immune responses may result in the inflammatory sequelae that are involved in severe diseases such as sepsis. Although numerous studies have tried to identify the molecular basis for the pathophysiology of Gram-positive bacterial infection, the exact role of LTA during the infection has not been clearly elucidated. This review provides an overview of LTA structure and host recognition by TLR2 that leads to the activation of innate immune responses. Emphasis is placed on differential immunostimulating activities of LTAs of various Gram-positive bacteria at the molecular level.
authors: Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, DRI, and BK21 Plus Program, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Building 86, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors: Seok-Seong
authors: SS
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, DRI, and BK21 Plus Program, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Building 86, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ju-Ri
authors: JR
authors: Sim
authors: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors: Cheol-Heui
authors: CH
authors: Yun
authors: Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, DRI, and BK21 Plus Program, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Building 86, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. shhan-mi@snu.ac.kr.
authors: Seung Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013682:Teichoic Acids; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D037521:Virulence Factors; C009900:lipoteichoic acid
keywords: Gram-positive bacteria; Inflammation; Innate immunity; Lipoteichoic acid; Toll-like receptor