Toll-like receptors and innate immunity

R Medzhitov - Nature Reviews Immunology, 2001 - nature.com
Nature Reviews Immunology, 2001nature.com
Toll-like receptors have a crucial role in the detection of microbial infection in mammals and
insects. In mammals, these receptors have evolved to recognize conserved products unique
to microbial metabolism. This specificity allows the Toll proteins to detect the presence of
infection and to induce activation of inflammatory and antimicrobial innate immune
responses. Recognition of microbial products by Toll-like receptors expressed on dendritic
cells triggers functional maturation of dendritic cells and leads to initiation of antigen-specific …
Abstract
Toll-like receptors have a crucial role in the detection of microbial infection in mammals and insects. In mammals, these receptors have evolved to recognize conserved products unique to microbial metabolism. This specificity allows the Toll proteins to detect the presence of infection and to induce activation of inflammatory and antimicrobial innate immune responses. Recognition of microbial products by Toll-like receptors expressed on dendritic cells triggers functional maturation of dendritic cells and leads to initiation of antigen-specific adaptive immune responses.
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