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Innate immune responses to microbial poisons: discovery and function of the Toll-like receptors

Bruce Beutler1

  • 1The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Immunology, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. bruce@scripps.edu

Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
|January 24, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Mammals possess an endotoxin receptor that evolved specifically to detect bacterial endotoxins. This discovery reveals the crucial role of Toll-like receptors as key sensors in the innate immune system.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Toxins often hijack host proteins, but their natural ligands are usually unrelated to the toxin.
  • The endotoxin receptor represents a unique case where the receptor evolved specifically to bind a toxin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary basis and function of the endotoxin receptor.
  • To understand why mammals maintain a gene that could potentially harm survival.

Main Methods:

  • The study focused on identifying and characterizing the endotoxin receptor.
  • Investigated the biological role and evolutionary strategy of Toll-like receptors.

Main Results:

  • The endotoxin receptor was identified as a specific sensor for endotoxin.
  • Toll-like receptors were confirmed as principal sensors of the innate immune system.

Conclusions:

  • The existence of the endotoxin receptor highlights an evolutionary adaptation for detecting harmful microbial components.
  • Toll-like receptors play a vital role in innate immunity by sensing conserved microbial molecules like endotoxin.

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