Therapeutic impact of toll-like receptors on inflammatory bowel diseases: A multiple-edged sword

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http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/116331317/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1 & SRETRY=0

Basic Science Review

Therapeutic impact of toll-like receptors on inflammatory bowel diseases: A multiple-edged sword

Elke Cario, MD *

Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University Hospital of Essen, and Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

email: Elke Cario (elke.cario@...)

*Correspondence to Elke Cario, Div. of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University Hospital of Essen, Institutsgruppe I, Virchowstr. 171; D-45147 Essen, Germany

Funded by: Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA, Senior Research Award) Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; Grant Number: DFG Ca226/4-2 IFORES program (Medical School of Essen)

Keywords

host defense • immunotherapy • inflammation • innate immunity • intestine • Toll-like receptors

Abstract

Recent studies have begun to define the mechanisms through which Toll-like receptors (TLRs) regulate intestinal homeostasis in health and disease. Current therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) mostly aim at interrupting the inflammatory cascade through agents that regulate TH1 or TH2 cytokine responses. As recognition grows for TLR dysfunction to play a role in IBD pathogenesis, TLRs could provide another valid interventional target for novel therapy development. However, seemingly contradictory results from studying different murine models of colitis have so far confounded whether therapeutically useful modulation of TLRs is best accomplished by activating, inhibiting, or rather a combination of both at different stages of mucosal disease. This review evaluates potential strategies as well as their rationale and future prospects.

(Inflamm Bowel Dis 2007)

Received: 29 August 2007; Accepted: 31 August 2007

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)10.1002/ibd.20294 About DOI