Innate immunity

Recent years have witnessed an explosion of interest in the innate immune system. Questions about how the innate immune system senses infection and empowers a protective immune response are being answered at the molecular level. These basic science discoveries are being translated into a more complete understanding of the central role innate immunity plays in the pathogenesis of many human infectious and inflammatory diseases. It is particularly exciting that we are already seeing a return on these scientific investments with the emergence of novel therapies to harness the power of the innate immune system. In this review we explore the defining characteristics of the innate immune system, and through more detailed examples, we highlight recent breakthroughs that have advanced our understanding of the role of innate immunity in human health and disease.

Key words: Host defense, innate immunity, Toll-like receptors, nucleotide oligomerization domain–like receptors

Abbreviations used: DAMP, Damage-associated molecular pattern, IPAF, IL-1β-converting enzyme (ICE) protease-activating factor, IRAK4, IL-1 receptor–associated kinase 4, MAL, MyD88 adapter-like, MPL, Monophosphoryl lipid A, MyD88, Myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88, NK, Natural killer, NLR, Nucleotide oligomerization domain–like receptor, NLRP3, NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 3, NOD, Nucleotide oligomerization domain, SNP, Single nucleotide polymorphism, TIR, Toll/IL-1 receptor–like domain, TIRAP, Toll/IL-1 receptor–like domain–containing adaptor protein, TLR, Toll-like receptor