Activation and regulation mechanisms of NOD-like receptors based on structural biology

Innate immunity is a primary defense system against microbial infections. Innate immune pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play pivotal roles in detection of invading pathogens. When pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, invade our bodies, their components are recognized by PRRs as pathogen-ass...

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Main Author: Umeharu Ohto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.953530/full
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author Umeharu Ohto
author_facet Umeharu Ohto
author_sort Umeharu Ohto
collection DOAJ
description Innate immunity is a primary defense system against microbial infections. Innate immune pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play pivotal roles in detection of invading pathogens. When pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, invade our bodies, their components are recognized by PRRs as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), activating the innate immune system. Cellular components such as DNA and RNA, acting as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), also activate innate immunity through PRRs under certain conditions. Activation of PRRs triggers inflammatory responses, interferon-mediated antiviral responses, and the activation of acquired immunity. Research on innate immune receptors is progressing rapidly. A variety of these receptors has been identified, and their regulatory mechanisms have been elucidated. Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) constitute a major family of intracellular PRRs and are involved in not only combating pathogen invasion but also maintaining normal homeostasis. Some NLRs are known to form multi-protein complexes called inflammasomes, a process that ultimately leads to the production of inflammatory cytokines and induces pyroptosis through the proteolytic cascade. The aberrant activation of NLRs has been found to be associated with autoimmune diseases. Therefore, NLRs are considered targets for drug discovery, such as for antiviral drugs, immunostimulants, antiallergic drugs, and autoimmune disease drugs. This review summarizes our recent understanding of the activation and regulation mechanisms of NLRs, with a particular focus on their structural biology. These include NOD2, neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP)/NLRC4, NLR family pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1), NLRP3, NLRP6, and NLRP9. NLRs are involved in a variety of diseases, and their detailed activation mechanisms based on structural biology can aid in developing therapeutic agents in the future.
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spelling doaj.art-e55c04aee1934a7abb1c2b713ba0ced62022-12-22T04:04:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242022-09-011310.3389/fimmu.2022.953530953530Activation and regulation mechanisms of NOD-like receptors based on structural biologyUmeharu OhtoInnate immunity is a primary defense system against microbial infections. Innate immune pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play pivotal roles in detection of invading pathogens. When pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, invade our bodies, their components are recognized by PRRs as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), activating the innate immune system. Cellular components such as DNA and RNA, acting as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), also activate innate immunity through PRRs under certain conditions. Activation of PRRs triggers inflammatory responses, interferon-mediated antiviral responses, and the activation of acquired immunity. Research on innate immune receptors is progressing rapidly. A variety of these receptors has been identified, and their regulatory mechanisms have been elucidated. Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) constitute a major family of intracellular PRRs and are involved in not only combating pathogen invasion but also maintaining normal homeostasis. Some NLRs are known to form multi-protein complexes called inflammasomes, a process that ultimately leads to the production of inflammatory cytokines and induces pyroptosis through the proteolytic cascade. The aberrant activation of NLRs has been found to be associated with autoimmune diseases. Therefore, NLRs are considered targets for drug discovery, such as for antiviral drugs, immunostimulants, antiallergic drugs, and autoimmune disease drugs. This review summarizes our recent understanding of the activation and regulation mechanisms of NLRs, with a particular focus on their structural biology. These include NOD2, neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP)/NLRC4, NLR family pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1), NLRP3, NLRP6, and NLRP9. NLRs are involved in a variety of diseases, and their detailed activation mechanisms based on structural biology can aid in developing therapeutic agents in the future. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.953530/fullinnate immunitypathogen-associated molecular patternsdamage-associated molecular patternspattern recognition receptorsNOD-like receptors (NLRs)inflammasome
spellingShingle Umeharu Ohto
Activation and regulation mechanisms of NOD-like receptors based on structural biology
Frontiers in Immunology
innate immunity
pathogen-associated molecular patterns
damage-associated molecular patterns
pattern recognition receptors
NOD-like receptors (NLRs)
inflammasome
title Activation and regulation mechanisms of NOD-like receptors based on structural biology
title_full Activation and regulation mechanisms of NOD-like receptors based on structural biology
title_fullStr Activation and regulation mechanisms of NOD-like receptors based on structural biology
title_full_unstemmed Activation and regulation mechanisms of NOD-like receptors based on structural biology
title_short Activation and regulation mechanisms of NOD-like receptors based on structural biology
title_sort activation and regulation mechanisms of nod like receptors based on structural biology
topic innate immunity
pathogen-associated molecular patterns
damage-associated molecular patterns
pattern recognition receptors
NOD-like receptors (NLRs)
inflammasome
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.953530/full
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