Innate immunity and hepatocarcinoma: Can toll-like receptors open the door to oncogenesis?

Figure 3 How toll-like receptor 3 stimulus works against hepatocarcinoma. Stimulation of intracellular TLR3 is able to elicit cell apoptosis in a TRAIL-dependent manner that synergistically accompanies a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, TLR3 stimulus can promote either an inflammatory or an apoptotic response. The first one pending on NF-κB, the second in caspase-8 activation and INF-γ release. As a result, TLR3 works as a protector against cancer which stimulation results in diminished tumour growth. TLR3: Toll-like receptor 3; TRAIL: Tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand; INF-γ: Interferon gamma; NF-κB: Nuclear transcription factor kappa B.