Toll样受体通路调节Tregs功能的研究进展

Research progress on Toll-like receptors pathways regulating function of regulatory T cells

摘要:

模式识别受体Toll样受体 (Toll like receptors，TLRs) 是固有免疫中免疫受体的代表，进化上十分保守，对生物体的生存极为重要。TLRs通过内源或外源的配体启动信号转导，激活下游一系列重要的基因表达与活化。研究表明调节性T细胞 (Regulatory T cell，Treg) 在维持机体外周免疫耐受和阻止移植排斥反应等方面发挥核心作用。Treg细胞表达某些TLRs，包括TLR2、TLR4、TLR5、TLR7、TLR8、TLR9等。TLRs的活化可能直接或间接地影响 (主要是活化) Treg的增殖和免疫抑制功能，这种调节与感染、自身免疫病和癌症的发生密切相关。其中热休克蛋白作为TLRs配体分子对于Treg的调节发挥了重要的作用。因此，了解TLRs通路对研究Treg免疫调控机制、新药物研发和靶向治疗有重大意义。文中简要介绍了TLRs通路调节Treg免疫功能的相关研究进展。

Abstract:

Toll like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors and represent immune receptors in innate immunity. They are very conservative in evolution and extremely important for the survival of organisms. TLRs initiate signal transduction through binding of endogenous or exogenous ligands to activate a series of downstream important gene expression and activation. Studies have shown that regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a central role in maintaining peripheral immune tolerance and preventing transplant rejection. Tregs express certain TLRs, including TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9. Activation of TLRs may directly or indirectly affect (mainly activate) Treg proliferation and immunosuppressive functions, and this regulation is closely related to the occurrence of infection, autoimmune disease and cancer. The heat shock proteins as TLRs ligand molecules play important roles in the regulation of Treg. Therefore, understanding regulatory mechanisms of TLR pathways on Tregs is of great significance for new drug development and targeted therapy. This review introduces how TLR-mediated pathways regulate Tregs’ immune function.