BACKGROUND C-type lectins are a superfamily of Ca(2+) dependent carbohydrate-recognition proteins that play significant diverse roles in nonself-recognition and clearance of invaders. Though they are well characterized in vertebrates, the study of the potential function and mechanism of C-type lectins in invertebrate immunity is still in its infancy. METHODOLOGY A C-type lectin (CfLec-1) from...

Immune activation is critical to HIV infection and pathogenesis; however, our understanding of HIV innate immune activation remains incomplete. Recently we demonstrated that soluble TLR2 (sTLR2) physically inhibited HIV-induced NFκB activation and inflammation, as well as HIV-1 infection. In light of these findings, we hypothesized that HIV-1 structural proteins may serve as pathogen-associated...

Sepsis is aggravated by an inappropriate immune response to invading microorganisms, which occasionally leads to multiple organ failure. Several lines of evidence suggest that the ventricular myocardium is depressed during sepsis with features of diastolic dysfunction. Potential candidates responsible for septic cardiomyopathy include pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), cytokines, a...

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) appear to be modulated by the interaction of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) derived from intestinal bacteria with their respective innate immune receptors, including Toll-like receptors (TLRs). We aimed to establish if intestinal concentrations of proinflammatory bacterial ligands of TLR2, TLR4, or TLR5 may be altered in murine IBD m...

MAP kinase (MPK) cascades in Arabidopsis thaliana and other vascular plants are activated by developmental cues, abiotic stress, and pathogen infection. Much less is known of MPK functions in nonvascular land plants such as the moss Physcomitrella patens Here, we provide evidence for a signaling pathway in P. patens required for immunity triggered by pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMP...

Balanced activity of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during innate immune responses is required to allow effective host defense while avoiding tissue damage and autoimmunity. Induction of cytokine production after recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by innate immune cells has been well demonstrated, but modulation of cytokine function by PAMPs is not well understo...

A role for PRRs (pattern-recognition receptors) in immune cell function is now well established. In macrophages and other immune cells, activation of TLRs (Toll-like receptors) and cytosolic NLRs [NOD (nucleotide oligomerization domain) proteins containing a leucine-rich repeat] results in the induction of genes and release of imunoregulator hormones including cytokines and NO (nitric oxide). I...

Toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) is an important mechanism for optimal cellular immune responses. APC TLR engagement indirectly enhances activated CD4(+) T cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival by promoting the up-regulation of costimulatory molecules and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. However, TLRs are also expressed...