The biology of Toll-like receptors

Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2000 Sep;11(3):219-32. doi: 10.1016/s1359-6101(00)00006-x.

Abstract

In 1997, a human homologue of the Drosophila Toll protein was described, a protein later to be designated Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Since that time, additional human and murine TLR proteins have been identified. Mammalian TLR proteins appear to represent a conserved family of innate immune recognition receptors. These receptors are coupled to a signaling pathway that is conserved in mammals, insects, and plants, resulting in the activation of genes that mediate innate immune defenses. Numerous studies have now identified a wide variety of chemically-diverse bacterial products that serve as putative ligands for TLR proteins. More recent studies have identified the first endogenous protein ligands for TLR proteins. TLR signaling represents a key feature of innate immune response to pathogen invasion.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Drosophila / genetics
  • Drosophila / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Humans
  • Insect Proteins / physiology
  • Ligands
  • Lipopolysaccharides / chemistry
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism*
  • Mammals
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5
  • Toll-Like Receptor 6
  • Toll-Like Receptors

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • TLR4 protein, human
  • TLR6 protein, human
  • Tl protein, Drosophila
  • Tlr6 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5
  • Toll-Like Receptor 6
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • tehao protein, Drosophila