Role of Toll-Like Receptors in the interplay between pathogen and damage associated molecular patterns

Abstract

Various theoretical studies have been carried out to infer relevant protein-protein interactions among pathogens and their hosts. Such studies are generally based on preferential attachment of bacteria / virus to their human receptor homologs. We have analyzed 17 pathogenic species mainly belonging to bacterial and viral pathogenic classes, with the aim to identify the interacting human proteins which are targeted by both bacteria and virus specifically. Our study reveals that the TLRs play a crucial role between the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and the damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPS). PAMPs include bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPs), endotoxins, bacterial flagellin, lipoteichoic acid, peptidoglycan in bacterial organisms and nucleic acid variants associated with viral organisms, whereas DAMPs are associated with host biomolecules that perpetuate non-infectious inflammatory responses. We found out the presence of SOD1 and SOD2 (superoxide dismutase) is crucial, as it acts as an anti-oxidant and helps in eliminating oxidative stress by preventing damage from reactive oxygen species. Hence, such strategies can be used as new therapies for anti-inflammatory diseases with significant clinical outcomes.