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Potential therapeutic
interventions on toll like receptors for clinical
applications
Zhengwu Lu
1006 S
De Anza Blvd#K104, San Jose, CA 95129, USA.
E-mail:
Zhengwu.Lu@ieee.org.
Accepted
30 October, 2009 |
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Toll
like receptors (TLRs) function as pattern-recognition
receptors (PRRs) and play key roles in the recognition of
microbial components or endogenous ligands induced during
inflammatory response. Studies on TLR-deficient mice have
indicated TLRs' involvement in multiple pathologic
conditions, and targeting of either the TLRs themselves or
the signals they generate is proving to be of great interest
to researchers as evidenced by increased research findings
among immunologists, pharmacologist, and pharmaceutical
scientists on TLRs. As animal models, cellular and molecular
mechanisms on TLR mediated disease pathogenesis are made
available, drug intervention strategies and early stage
clinical studies can be planned and initiated to seek
clinical proof for justifying TLRs and their associated
signaling pathway/molecules as therapeutic targets.
Moreover, a key functional output from TLRs is the
generation of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor
necrosis factor (TNF)
and IL-6, which are excellent targets for inflammatory
diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Key
words:
TLR, PRR, NF-κB, agonist, antagonist, drug discovery. |
