Abstract

USUGA PERILLA, Xiomara  and  OSSA GIRALDO, Ana Claudia. Autoimmunity and toll-like receptors. Iatreia [online]. 2012, vol.25, n.3, pp.250-260. ISSN 0121-0793.

Autoimmunity and toll-like receptors Innate immune response consists of a set of mechanisms allowing the body to recognize its own components and to differentiate them from invasive microorganisms in order to generate a first line of defense. Such recognition is mediated by several receptors present both on the surface and inside immune and non-immune cells, among them: Toll-like receptors, C-type lectin receptors, RIG receptors (retinoic acid induciblegenes), and Nod-like and NALP receptors, all of which recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMP). Due to this discriminative ability, acquired by innate immunity in the course of evolution, it has been traditionally accepted that autoimmune processes are not related to innate immunity but to the acquired one. However, several studies have demonstrated that this theory is not entirely true and that some mechanisms of innate immunity either participate in the generation of autoimmune diseases or enhance its physiopathology. This review examines the contribution of innate immunity to autoimmunity emphasizing on the role of Toll-like receptors.

Keywords : Autoantigens; Autoimmunity; Innate Immunity.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )