Pathogen-associated molecular patterns structure

Interactions between lipids and receptors for structurally conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns, most commonly the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), have been studied in detail for their involvement in adjuvant activity. TLRs appear to play an important role in the functioning of many adjuvants and the most important TLRs for lipopeptide or glycolipopeptide vaccines are TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, and TLR6 (van Duin et al. 2006). 

Up to now, several different TLRs in humans have been described. These molecules contain a characteristic leucine-rich extracellular domain (LLR), which recognizes conserved structures of the microorganisms called pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), referred to above under the discussion of innate immunity. This initial reaction between TLRs and PAMPs leads through a signalling cascade to the activation of genes that control the production of the proinflammatory cytokines.10... 

Other pathogen-associated molecules called PAMPs, for pathogen-associated molecular patterns, have been recently described (Jeannin et ah, 2002). These highly conserved structures are recognized by innate cells. Recent evidence shows that this recognition can mainly be attributed to non-clonally distributed receptors called pattern-recognition receptors, or PRRs,... 

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