The contribution of direct TLR signaling to T cell responses

Adeeb H. Rahman, Devon K. Taylor, Laurence A. Turka

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

124 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is well established that Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in the generation of innate immune responses and thereby also play an important, indirect role in the initiation of subsequent adaptive T cell responses. However, T cells also express certain TLRs, and we have focused on the physiological importance of direct TLR signaling in T cells. TLRs can function as co-stimulatory receptors that complement TCR-induced signals to enhance effector T cell proliferation, survival and cytokine production. We also found that TLR signaling pathways in T cells are required for the effective clonal expansion of antigen-specific T cells during infection in vivo. Thus, the importance of TLRs in T cell-mediated immunity reflects both T cell-extrinsic and T cell-intrinsic components, which warrants a reconsideration of the dogma that restricts germ-line encoded pattern recognition to cells of the innate immune system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25-36
Number of pages12
JournalImmunologic Research
Volume45
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • CD4 T cell
  • CD8 T cell
  • Clonal expansion
  • Co-stimulation
  • Inflammation
  • MyD88
  • PAMP
  • TLR

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