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©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2008; 14(33): 5149-5153
Published online Sep 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5149
Published online Sep 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5149
Toll-like receptors in inflammatory bowel disease-stepping into uncharted territory
Avi Levin, Oren Shibolet, Liver and Gastroenterology Units, Division of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Correspondence to: Oren Shibolet, MD, Liver and Gastroenterology Units, Division of Medicine, Division of Medicine, POB 12000, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. shibolet@hadassah.org.il
Telephone: +972-2-6778253 Fax: +972-2-6420338
Received: June 11, 2008
Revised: August 19, 2008
Accepted: August 26, 2008
Published online: September 7, 2008
Revised: August 19, 2008
Accepted: August 26, 2008
Published online: September 7, 2008
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory processes of the intestinal tract. The etiology of these diseases is currently unknown. However, inflammation is hypothesized to result from inappropriate activation of mucosal immunity by luminal antigens in genetically susceptible individuals. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of transmembrane proteins that act as microbial pattern recognition receptors. They are crucial initiators of innate immune responses. The role of TLRs in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been fully elucidated. In this review, we aim to analyze the available data connecting individual TLRs to intestinal inflammation and IBD.