Novel therapeutic strategies based on toll-like receptor signaling

The innate immune system is a critical first line of defense against many microbial, fungal and viral pathogens. Toll-like receptors play a central role in innate immunity, recognizing conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns and generating signals leading to the initiation of an adaptive immune response. Because of their ability to modulate adaptive immunity, Toll-like receptors represent strategic therapeutic targets for diseases that involve inappropriate adaptive immune responses, such as sepsis, autoimmune disorders, cancer and allergy.