The molecular basis of the host response to lipopolysaccharide

Nat Rev Microbiol. 2010 Jan;8(1):8-14. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro2266.

Abstract

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is produced by Gram-negative bacteria, is a powerful activator of innate immune responses. LPS binds to the proteins Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and MD2 to activate pro-inflammatory signalling pathways. The TLR4-MD2 receptor complex is crucial for the host recognition of Gram-negative bacterial infection, and pathogens have devised many strategies to evade or manipulate TLR4-MD2 activity. The TLR4-MD2 signalling pathway is therefore potentially an important therapeutic target. This Progress article focuses on recent exciting data that have revealed the structural basis of TLR4-MD2 recognition of LPS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / chemistry*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96 / chemistry
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96 / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96 / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / chemistry
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4