Innate immunity - 11/08/11

Doi : 10.1016/j.jaci.2009.07.016

Stuart E. Turvey, MB, BS, DPhil ^a,^⁎ , David H. Broide, MB, ChB ^b
^a Department of Paediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital and Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
^b Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, Calif

Reprint requests: Stuart Turvey, MB, BS, DPhil, FRCPC, Division of Infectious and Immunological Diseases, BC Children’s Hospital and Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, 950 West 28 Ave, Vancouver BC V5Z 4H4, Canada.

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed an explosion of interest in the innate immune system. Questions about how the innate immune system senses infection and empowers a protective immune response are being answered at the molecular level. These basic science discoveries are being translated into a more complete understanding of the central role innate immunity plays in the pathogenesis of many human infectious and inflammatory diseases. It is particularly exciting that we are already seeing a return on these scientific investments with the emergence of novel therapies to harness the power of the innate immune system. In this review we explore the defining characteristics of the innate immune system, and through more detailed examples, we highlight recent breakthroughs that have advanced our understanding of the role of innate immunity in human health and disease.

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Key words : Host defense, innate immunity, Toll-like receptors, nucleotide oligomerization domain–like receptors

Abbreviations used : DAMP, IPAF, IRAK4, MAL, MPL, MyD88, NK, NLR, NLRP3, NOD, SNP, TIR, TIRAP, TLR

Esquema

The “new” science of innate immunity

Organization of the human immune system: Three levels of host defense

Elements of the innate immune system

Host defense is achieved through integration of innate and adaptive immunity

Innate immune recognition strategies

Role of the innate immune system in health and disease

TLRs

NLRs

Therapeutic modulation of innate immunity

Activation of TLRs and modulation of allergic immune response

TLR-based vaccine adjuvants in allergic disease

TLR-based vaccine adjuvants in infectious disease

Conclusions

S. E. T. is supported by a Chaim Roifman Scholar Award from the Canadian Immunodeficiency Society and a Career Development Award from the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program (CCHCSP)-a CIHR Strategic Training Program and operating grants from the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the CIHR Team in Mutagenesis and Infectious Diseases. D.H.B. is supported by NIH grants AI 038425, AI072115 and AI070535.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.