Host Defense Mechanisms Triggered by Microbial Lipoproteins Through Toll-Like Receptors

✍ Scribed by Brightbill, H. D.

• Book ID: 118013327
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 226 KB
• Volume: 285
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• DOI: 10.1126/science.285.5428.732

✦ Synopsis

The generation of cell-mediated immunity against many infectious pathogens involves the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12), a key signal of the innate immune system. Yet, for many pathogens, the molecules that induce IL-12 production by macrophages and the mechanisms by which they do so remain undefined. Here it is shown that microbial lipoproteins are potent stimulators of IL-12 production by human macrophages, and that induction is mediated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Several lipoproteins stimulated TLR-dependent transcription of inducible nitric oxide synthase and the production of nitric oxide, a powerful microbicidal pathway. Activation of TLRs by microbial lipoproteins may initiate innate defense mechanisms against infectious pathogens.