Abstract
Positional cloning work and subsequent biochemical analyses have revealed that Toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4) transduces the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signal, alerting the host to infection by Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, it appears that the LPS sensing pathway is a solitary one: disruption of Tlr4 causes complete unresponsiveness to LPS. As several Tlr family members exist in vertebrates, it appears likely that the innate immune system defends the host by recognizing a small number of structurally conserved molecules that distinguish the microbial world from tissues of the host.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Drosophila / immunology
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Endotoxins / chemistry
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Endotoxins / metabolism
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Gram-Negative Bacteria / immunology*
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Gram-Negative Bacteria / metabolism
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Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / immunology*
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Humans
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Immunity, Innate
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Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism*
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Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
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Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
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Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction
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Toll-Like Receptor 4
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Toll-Like Receptor 5
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Toll-Like Receptors
Substances
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Drosophila Proteins
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Endotoxins
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Lipopolysaccharides
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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TLR4 protein, human
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Toll-Like Receptor 4
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Toll-Like Receptor 5
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Toll-Like Receptors
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tehao protein, Drosophila