Dendritic cells and Toll-like receptors may be drug targets in atopic dermatitis

Dendritic cells (DCs) have multifaceted functions. They bridge the gap between innate and adaptive immunity.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs)-expressing DCs may act as promoters of chronic inflammatory immune responses in patients with atopic dermatitis. However, they are also involved in tolerogenic pathways.

TLR-bearing DCs represent promising targets, which might help to improve tolerance induction during immunotherapeutic approaches in the future.


Dendritic cells are the key antigen presenting cells of the immune system. This video describes how they do this. This video is from: Janeway's Immunobiology, 7th Edition.

What are the intracellular TLRs?

TLR 3, 7, 8, and 9 are in the intracellular compartment and detect nucleic acids.

What is MyD88?

MyD88 is an adapter protein that plays a role in TLR signaling. MyD88 is involved in all TLR-signaling pathways except TLR 3. TLR9 and MyD88 play central role in protective immunity to malaria http://goo.gl/VVF07

HIV can attach to dendritic cells through the binding of gp120 to the adhesion molecule DC-SIGN (dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-grabbing nonintegrin).

References

Dendritic cells: Bridging innate and adaptive immunity in atopic dermatitis. Natalija Novak et al. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Volume 125, Issue 1, January 2010, Pages 50-59.

Nickel allergy tracked to a single receptor - Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) http://goo.gl/PZic

Related reading:

Nobel Prize in Medicine 2011 - for discovery of dendritic cells and LPS http://goo.gl/JvcYm and http://j.mp/mVxtyJ