Gregory M. Barton

Toll-like receptors control activation of adaptive immune responses.

Mechanisms that control the activation of antigen-specific immune responses in vivo are poorly understood. It has been suggested that the initiation of adaptive immune responses is controlled by innate immune recognition. Mammalian Toll-like receptors play an essential role in innate immunity by recognizing conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns and initiating the activation of NF-κB and other signaling pathways through the adapter protein, MyD88. Here we show that MyD88-deficient mice have a profound defect in the activation of antigen-specific T helper type 1 (TH1) but not TH2 immune responses. These results suggest that distinct pathways of the innate immune system control activation of the two effector arms of adaptive immunity.

TIRAP: an adapter molecule in the Toll signaling pathway.

Mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize conserved products of microbial metabolism and activate NF-κB and other signaling pathways through the adapter protein MyD88. Although some cellular responses are completely abolished in MyD88-deficient mice, TLR4, but not TLR9, can activate NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases and induce dendritic cell maturation in the absence of MyD88. These differences suggest that another adapter must exist that can mediate MyD88-independent signaling in response to TLR4 ligation. We have identified and characterized a Toll–interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain–containing adapter protein (TIRAP) and have shown that it controls activation of MyD88-independent signaling pathways downstream of TLR4. We have also shown that the double-stranded RNA-binding protein kinase PKR is a component of both the TIRAP- and MyD88-dependent signaling pathways.

Control of adaptive immune responses by Toll-like receptors.

Recently, there has been considerable interest in how adaptive immune responses are controlled by the innate immune system. In particular, researchers have focused on how the differentiation of CD4 T cells is directed upon priming by dendritic cells. The identification of the Toll-like receptors as a family of pattern-recognition receptors involved in controlling dendritic cell activation has focused attention on these receptors as possible regulators of adaptive immune responses. However, recent studies have suggested that Toll-like receptors may only control the induction of Th1 responses and that a separate system of recognition regulates Th2 responses.

Linking Toll-like receptors to IFN-|[alpha]|/|[beta]| expression

Many infectious agents elicit a type I interferon response, but the molecular details that lead to IFN-α/β expression have remained obscure. New details are emerging about how specific TLRs signal IFN-α/β expression.

Toll signaling: RIPping off the TNF pathway

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) use multiple downstream signaling pathways. New data suggest that components of the tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling pathway are involved in signal transduction by certain TLR family members.