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  • Review Article
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The role of Toll-like receptors in renal diseases

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 6, pages 224–235 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have a key role in innate immunity. These receptors recognize both pathogen-associated molecular patterns and molecules that are released from damaged tissue. TLRs mediate signal transduction pathways through the activation of transcription factors that regulate the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and are required for the development of adaptive immune responses. TLRs might have an important role in the pathogenesis of renal diseases: their exaggerated activation is associated with ischemic kidney damage, acute kidney injury, end-stage renal failure, acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, acute renal transplant rejection and delayed allograft function. As the results of previous studies concerning the role of TLRs in renal diseases are conflicting, further work is needed to determine the exact role of these receptors and to evaluate strategies to prevent TLR-mediated local inflammation. This Review discusses the evidence supporting a role for TLRs in contrasting bacterial infections and in causing or aggravating renal conditions when TLR activation leads to a harmful inflammatory response.

Key Points

  • Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key proteins in innate immunity

  • TLRs are required for the development of adaptive immune responses

  • Overactivation of TLRs might contribute to the pathogenesis of many renal conditions, including ischemic renal damage, allograft rejection, acute kidney injury, nephritis and urinary tract infections

  • Some studies have suggested that TLR inhibitors have therapeutic potential; however, the results of these studies are often conflicting and should be confirmed in large, randomized, controlled trials

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Figure 1: Signaling pathway of TLRs in kidney diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Family Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113, 90-549 Lodz, Poland

    Anna Gluba & Jacek Rysz

  2. Department of Hypertension, Medical University of Lodz, Zeromskiego 113, 90-549 Lodz, Poland

    Maciej Banach

  3. Department of Child Health, Kings College London School of Medicine, 4th Floor, Golden Jubilee Wing, King's College Hospital, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9RS, UK

    Simon Hannam

  4. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Free Campus, University College London Medical School, University College London, Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG, UK

    Dimitri P. Mikhailidis

  5. Department of Medical Biotechnology, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, Lodz, 92-215, Poland

    Agata Sakowicz

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  1. Anna Gluba
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Correspondence to Maciej Banach.

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Gluba, A., Banach, M., Hannam, S. et al. The role of Toll-like receptors in renal diseases. Nat Rev Nephrol 6, 224–235 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2010.16

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