Toll-Like Receptors React to Molecular Damage to Contribute to the Inflammation of Aging

This review paper covers what is known of toll-like receptors in the development of age-related chronic inflammation, with a particular focus on toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). A sizable number of researchers are focused on finding ways to suppress the constant overactivation of the immune system in later life by interfering in its regulation. Unfortunately, the sensing mechanisms involved are also required for normal immune function, so it is hard to envisage even sophisticated implementations of this strategy producing therapies that don't inhibit necessary immune functions, such as defense against pathogens and destruction of potentially cancerous cells. The better approach is to repair the underlying molecular damage and disarray that triggers toll-like sensors, such as the mitochondrial dysfunction that allows mislocalization of mitochondrial DNA into the cytoplasm where it is mistaken for bacterial DNA. This is not a sizable focus in the research and development community, alas. Toll-like receptor (TLR) is a type of pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that plays a crucial role in the immune system. PRRs, predominantly expressed by innate immune cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, and epithelial cells, serve as sentinels of the body's defenses. They become activated upon detecting pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are molecular signatures unique to external pathogens and distinct from host components, as well as da...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs