Toll-like receptors and immune roles in anti-tuberculosis infection

Toll-like receptors (TLR), a family of pattern recognition receptors expressed on mammalian cell surface, are evolutionarily conserved to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The activation of TLR not only initiates innate immunity, but also regulates enhanced antigen-specific acquired immunity, and thus associates innate and adaptive immunity. Study showed that TLR are host-mediated recognition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and anti-TB immune response key elements,and that the anti-tuberculosis infection immunity related is mainly TLR2 and TLR4. Research on TLR contributes to a clarification of the pathogenesis of TB and provides the brand-new strategy for its treatment. Key words: Toll-like receptor; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Innate immunity; Adaptive immunity