The innate immune system is a critical part of the response to pathogens and overall immunity. Compared with the adaptive immune response, these innate responses are not antigen-specific and recognize patterns in bacteria, viruses and fungi. Chief among these are TLRs (Toll-like receptors). TLRs are PRRs (pattern recognition receptors) that are germ-line-encoded and are also able to recognize endogenous molecules that are released upon cell damage or stress and have been demonstrated to have a key role in numerous autoimmune diseases, including RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and SSc (systemic sclerosis). SSc is an autoimmune disorder in which vascular injury occurs and there is a chronic low-grade inflammation followed by excessive ECM (extracellular matrix) deposition and ultimately fibrosis. The fibrosis ultimately leads to organ dysfunction and death. The preceding vascular damage and activation of the innate immune system leads to mobilization of the innate lymphoid cells and the up-regulation of multiple genes and pro-fibrotic cytokines. These locally released cytokines activate resident fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts. The aim of the present review is to explore the role of the innate immune system in SSc and TLRs and how these interact with stromal cells to produce fibrosis. Targeting the innate immune system or specific components of the TLR signalling cascade may be a novel therapeutic option in what is an incurable disease.
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Review Article|
October 25 2013
Innate immunity in systemic sclerosis pathogenesis
Steven O’Reilly
*Musculoskeletal Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, 4th Floor Cookson Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr Steven O’Reilly (email steven.o’[email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
July 05 2013
Revision Received:
August 22 2013
Accepted:
August 27 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2014 Biochemical Society
2014
Clin Sci (Lond) (2014) 126 (5): 329–337.
Article history
Received:
July 05 2013
Revision Received:
August 22 2013
Accepted:
August 27 2013
Citation
Steven O’Reilly; Innate immunity in systemic sclerosis pathogenesis. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 March 2014; 126 (5): 329–337. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20130367
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