Toll-Like Receptors and Human Disease: Lessons from Single Nucleotide

Abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a large group of proteins which recognize various pathogen-associated molecular patterns, are critical for the normal function of the innate immune system. Following their discovery many single nucleo-tide polymorphisms within TLRs and components of their signaling machinery have been discovered and subsequently implicated in a wide range of human diseases including atherosclerosis, sepsis, asthma, and immunodeficiency. This re-view discusses the effect of genetic variation on TLR function and how they may precipitate disease