Abstract
Studies of sepsis conducted over the century have led to an understanding of many of the molecular events that take place during a severe infection. But what are the first events? Very recent genetic analyses have provided an answer to this question. Genetic studies have disclosed that bacterial endotoxin is sensed through a solitary biochemical pathway. At the heart of this pathway is the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4): one member of an ancient receptor family dedicated to the detection of infectious organisms. Most and perhaps all of the untoward effects of infection are initiated by the TLRs, ten of which are represented in humans. At the same time, it is known that TLRs are required to sense infection at its earliest stages, and thereby defeat it. The means to block TLR signal transduction is now at hand. Will this do good or harm?
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 547-551 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift |
| Volume | 152 |
| Issue number | 21-22 |
| State | Published - 2002 |
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Keywords
- Innate immunity
- Microbial infection
- Signal transduction
- Toll-like receptors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Innate immune sensing of microbial infection : The mechanism and the therapeutic challenge. / Beutler, B.
In: Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift, Vol. 152, No. 21-22, 2002, p. 547-551.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Innate immune sensing of microbial infection
T2 - The mechanism and the therapeutic challenge
AU - Beutler, B.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Studies of sepsis conducted over the century have led to an understanding of many of the molecular events that take place during a severe infection. But what are the first events? Very recent genetic analyses have provided an answer to this question. Genetic studies have disclosed that bacterial endotoxin is sensed through a solitary biochemical pathway. At the heart of this pathway is the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4): one member of an ancient receptor family dedicated to the detection of infectious organisms. Most and perhaps all of the untoward effects of infection are initiated by the TLRs, ten of which are represented in humans. At the same time, it is known that TLRs are required to sense infection at its earliest stages, and thereby defeat it. The means to block TLR signal transduction is now at hand. Will this do good or harm?
AB - Studies of sepsis conducted over the century have led to an understanding of many of the molecular events that take place during a severe infection. But what are the first events? Very recent genetic analyses have provided an answer to this question. Genetic studies have disclosed that bacterial endotoxin is sensed through a solitary biochemical pathway. At the heart of this pathway is the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4): one member of an ancient receptor family dedicated to the detection of infectious organisms. Most and perhaps all of the untoward effects of infection are initiated by the TLRs, ten of which are represented in humans. At the same time, it is known that TLRs are required to sense infection at its earliest stages, and thereby defeat it. The means to block TLR signal transduction is now at hand. Will this do good or harm?
KW - Innate immunity
KW - Microbial infection
KW - Signal transduction
KW - Toll-like receptors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036450271&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036450271&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 12506676
AN - SCOPUS:0036450271
VL - 152
SP - 547
EP - 551
JO - Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift
JF - Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift
SN - 0043-5341
IS - 21-22
ER -