Toward a structural understanding of nucleic acid‐sensing Toll‐like receptors in the innate immune system. Issue 20 (21st July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zhikuan; Ohto, Umeharu; Shimizu, Toshiyuki
• Is Part Of: FEBS letters. Volume 591:Issue 20(2017)
• Page Start: 3167
• Page End: 3181
• Publication Date: 2017-07-21
• Subjects: innate immunity -- nucleic acid sensor -- Toll‐like receptor; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biophysics -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Biochimie -- Périodiques; Biochemistry; Biophysics; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 572.05
• DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12749
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-5793

Abstract

Abstract : The history of mankind has been plagued by the tug of war with viral infections. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) and other receptors of the innate immune system constitute an early defense system against invading viruses by recognizing the viral genetic material, the nucleic acids (NAs). Agonistic ligands of NA‐sensing TLRs play an emerging role in the treatment of viral diseases, demonstrating a crucial role of these receptors. Recently, crystal structures have afforded new insights into TLR recognition of NAs. An aberrant activation by self‐NAs, which leads to the inflammation and autoimmunity, is avoided by strict regulation of NA–TLR interaction at multiple check‐points. This Review summarizes the novel structural understanding of NA‐sensing by TLRs and regulatory mechanisms of these receptors. Abstract :