TLR Cross-talk Confers Specificity to Innate Immunity

Abstract

Cross-talk within the innate immune pathways is highly complex and contains many unknowns. Here, we discuss the different combinations of PAMPs, together with the sequence, order, and dosage of consecutive PAMP challenges, which determine the nature of the immune response by macrophages. The engagement of different Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands leads to quantitatively and qualitatively unique cytokine production, showing that TLR pathway crosstalk enables the innate immune system to orchestrate immediate local and global responses. It is likely that multiple pathways are involved in the regulation of cytokine synergy, including many that have yet to be discovered.

Keywords:

• cytokines
• macrophage
• pathogen recognition
• signaling cross-talk
• toll-like receptors

Notice of Correction

Changes have beenmade to this article since its original online publication date of 9 June 2014.