Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 54, 220-224, 2001

To see an article, click this [PDF] link.

Invited Minireview

Molecular Basis for Innate Immune Recognition of Microbial Components

Kiyoshi Kawasaki and Masahiro Nishijima*

Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan

(Received November 7, 2001)

SUMMARY: Recognition of bacterial envelope constituents is one mechanism used by mammalian cells to initiate responses leading to bacterial killing, or, unfortunately, responses that also cause fatal septic shock. Many cell surface receptors by which these microbial components are recognized have been identified and characterized over the past a few years. In addition to CD14, which has been shown to be involved in the recognition of many microbial components, Toll-like receptors and MD-2 have been identified as factors playing a role in the receptor complexes of these components. Here we review the recent findings regarding the molecular basis for the recognition of microbial components.

Go to JJID Homepage                 Go to JJID 54 (6) Contents