Pathogen Recognition Receptors (pathogen + recognition_receptor)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Rare TLR2 mutations reduce TLR2 receptor function and can increase atopy risk

ALLERGY, Issue 4 2009
M. S. D. Kormann
Background:, Common genetic variations in toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), an innate pathogen recognition receptor, may influence the development of atopic diseases. So far, very little is known about the role of rare TLR2 mutations in these diseases. Objective:, We investigated the functional properties of six rare amino acid changes in TLR2 (and one amino acid change in a TLR2 pseudogene) and studied their effect on atopic sensitization and disease. Methods:, We identified rare TLR2 mutations leading to amino acid changes from databases. Functional effects of TLR2 variants were analyzed by NF-,B-dependent luciferase reporter assay and interleukin-8 enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in vitro. The frequency of these mutations was determined in a random sample of the general population (n = 368). Association with atopic diseases were studied in a cross sectional German study population (n = 3099). Results:, Three out of six mutations in the TLR2 gene altered receptor activity in vitro. Out of these, only the minor allele of R753Q occurred reasonably frequent in the German population (minor allele frequency 3%). The risk to develop atopy increased by 50% in carriers of the 753Q allele (P = 0.021) and total (P = 0.040) as well as allergen specific serum IgE levels (P = 0.011) were significantly elevated. Conclusion:, The rare but functionally relevant mutation R753Q in TLR2 may significantly affect common conditions such as atopic sensitization in the general population. [source]


Molecular mimicry in innate immunity?

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 7 2008
The viral RNA recognition receptor TLR7 accelerates murine lupus
Abstract Toll-like receptors (TLR), such as TLR7, were first described as innate pathogen recognition receptors that trigger appropriate antimircrobial immune responses upon exposure to pathogen-associated molecules, e.g. viral ssRNA. In parallel to ongoing studies on TLR-biology, mounting experimental evidence suggests that endogenous RNA-related autoantigens may also activate dendritic cells (DC) and B cells through TLR7. TLR7-mediated DC activation, autoantibody secretion, lymphoproliferation, and autoimmune tissue injury, are frequently observed in various murine models of systemic lupus and lupus nephritis. A paper in the current issue of the European Journal of Immunology, provide striking experimental evidence for this concept; the authors show that the Y chromosome-linked autoimmune accelerating (Yaa) translocation from the X-chromosome, consisting of 16 genes including Tlr7, largely mediates the autoimmune phenotype via the duplication of Tlr7. This finding highlights the need to address the significance of TLR7 in human lupus in terms of both genetic risk and as a therapeutic option. See accompanying article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200838138 [source]


Neutrophil influx during non-typhoidal salmonellosis: who is in the driver's seat?

FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
Çagla Tükel
Abstract A massive neutrophil influx in the intestine is the histopathological hallmark of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium-induced enterocolitis in humans. Two major hypotheses on the mechanism leading to neutrophil infiltration in the intestinal mucosa have emerged. One hypothesis suggests that S. enterica serovar Typhimurium takes an active role in triggering this host response by injecting proteins, termed effectors, into the host cell cytosol which induce a proinflammatory gene expression profile in the intestinal epithelium. The second hypothesis suggests a more passive role for the pathogen by proposing that bacterial invasion stimulates the innate pathways of inflammation because the pathogen-associated molecular patterns of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium are recognized by pathogen recognition receptors on cells in the lamina propria. A review of the current literature reveals that, while pathogen recognition receptors are clearly involved in eliciting neutrophil influx during S. enterica serovar Typhimurium infection, a direct contribution of effectors in triggering proinflammatory host cell responses cannot currently be ruled out. [source]


How C-type lectins detect pathogens

CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2005
Alessandra Cambi
Summary Glycosylation of proteins has proven extremely important in a variety of cellular processes, including enzyme trafficking, tissue homing and immune functions. In the past decade, increasing interest in carbohydrate-mediated mechanisms has led to the identification of novel carbohydrate-recognizing receptors expressed on cells of the immune system. These non-enzymatic lectins contain one or more carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) that determine their specificity. In addition to their cell adhesion functions, lectins now also appear to play a major role in pathogen recognition. Depending on their structure and mode of action, lectins are subdivided in several groups. In this review, we focus on the calcium (Ca2+)-dependent lectin group, known as C-type lectins, with the dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) as a prototype type II C-type lectin organized in microdomains, and their role as pathogen recognition receptors in sensing microbes. Moreover, the cross-talk of C-type lectins with other receptors, such as Toll-like receptors, will be discussed, highlighting the emerging model that microbial recognition is based on a complex network of interacting receptors. [source]