Toll-Like Receptors Gene Polymorphisms in Autoimmune Disease

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology 2021-04, Vol.12, p.672346-672346
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yingchi, Liu, Jia, Wang, Changlun, Liu, Junxian, Lu, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: autoimmune disease; gene polymorphisms; Immunology; pathogenesis; toll-like receptors; treatment
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.672346

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.