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Published on: January 30, 2014
Toll-like receptor-mediated neuroinflammation: relevance for cognitive dysfunctions
Silvia Squillace1, Daniela Salvemini1
1Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, and the Henry and Amelia Nasrallah Center for Neuroscience, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
Abstract:
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) with a well-documented role in the innate and adaptive immune responses. Interestingly, TLR activation has also been linked to several brain functions including neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Increasing evidence supports TLR involvement in peripheral and central inflammation underlying normal aging and the pathogenesis of clinical conditions characterized by cognitive decline. These include not only major neurodegenerative diseases but also traumatic brain injuries, surgeries, and alcohol consumption- and chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment. We first summarize the physiological roles of TLRs in the nervous system, and then illustrate the emerging involvement of TLRs in cognitive functions, pointing to these receptors as novel enticing pharmacological targets to develop more efficient drugs for the treatment of cognitive impairment.
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