Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Role of toll-like receptors in systemic sclerosis

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Marzena Ciechomska, Rachel Cant, James Finnigan, Professor Jaap Van Laar, Dr Steven O'Reilly

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Accumulative evidence demonstrates the crucial role of evolutionary conserved Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in identifying microbial or viral compounds. TLRs are also able to recognise endogenous molecules which are released upon cell damage or stress and have been shown to play a key role in numerous autoimmune diseases including systemic sclerosis (SSc). A classic feature of SSc, is vascular injury manifested as Raynaud's phenomenon and ischaemia of the skin, resulting in the release of endogenous TLR ligands during inflammation and local tissue damage. These locally released TLR ligands bind TLRs possibly complexed to autoantibodies, and initiate intracellular signalling pathways and may be one of the mechanisms that initiate and drive autoimmunity and subsequent fibrosis. Activation of the immune system results in interferon (IFN) sensitive gene transcription. There is also an IFN gene signature in SSc peripheral blood. TLRs may represent the link between immune activation, common in SSc, and tissue fibrosis. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms of TLR-mediated pathogenesis and therapies targeting individual TLRs, may provide a more specific approach of treating multi-systemic autoimmune diseases. This review aims to integrate the current knowledge of TLR function in the autoimmune disorders with particular emphasis on SSc. We suggest the TLR system as a new therapeutic target.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Ciechomska M, Cant R, Finnigan J, van Laar JM, O'Reilly S

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine

Year: 2013

Volume: 15

Print publication date: 28/08/2013

ISSN (print): 1473-7159

ISSN (electronic): 1462-3994

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/erm.2013.10

DOI: 10.1017/erm.2013.10

PubMed id: 23985302


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share