Toll-Like Receptors Gene Polymorphisms in Autoimmune Disease

• Main Authors: Yingchi Zhang, Jia Liu, Changlun Wang, Junxian Liu, Wei Lu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-04-01
• Series: Frontiers in Immunology
• Subjects: gene polymorphisms; autoimmune disease; toll-like receptors; pathogenesis; treatment
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.672346/full

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important initiators of the immune response, both innate and acquired. Evidence suggests that gene polymorphisms within TLRs cause malfunctions of certain key TLR-related signaling pathways, which subsequently increases the risk of autoimmune diseases. We illustrate and discuss the current findings on the role of Toll-like receptor gene polymorphisms in numerous autoimmune diseases in this review, such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis. The study of genetic variation in TLRs in different populations has shown a complex interaction between immunity and environmental factors. This interaction suggests that TLR polymorphisms affect the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases differently in various populations. The identification of Toll-like receptor gene polymorphisms can expand our understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, which will subsequently guide effective medical management and provide insight into prognosis and advanced treatments.