Toll-like receptors in atherosclerosis.

Journal article

Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), is driven by inflammation. Increasing evidence suggests that toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key orchestrators of the atherosclerotic disease process. Interestingly, a distinct picture is being revealed for individual receptors in atherosclerosis. TLRs exhibit a complex nature enabling the detection of multiple motifs named danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Activation of these receptors triggers an intracellular signalling cascade mediated through MyD88 or TRIF, leading to the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In this review we explore key novel findings pertaining to TLR signalling in atherosclerosis, including recently described endosomal TLRs and future directions in TLR research.

Authors: Falck-Hansen, M; Kassiteridi, C; Monaco, C

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 14008-14023
• Publication date: 2013-01-01
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms140714008
• EISSN: 1422-0067
• ISSN: 1422-0067
• Language: English
• Keywords: Risk Factors; Humans; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; Atherosclerosis; Signal Transduction; Toll-Like Receptors; Apolipoproteins E; Animals