Non-coding RNAs regulate immune responses

Immune cells protect the body from invading pathogens through responses executed largely through the induction of specific gene programmes.

The toll-like receptor (TLR) family of molecules are pattern recognition receptors that are instrumental for immune responses against a variety of microbes. Expressed on dendritic cells, recent studies implicate TLRs in a diverse set of diseases including diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Interaction of TLR with pathogen-specific components initiates a transcriptional response, which activates thousands of genes necessary to alert the adaptive immune system and eliminate the pathogenic threat.

Further details: Non-coding RNAs regulate immune responses