Toll-Like Receptors and Itch

TLRs are also found to be expressed by various cell types in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), such as microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells, and neurons (Okun et al. 2011; Buchanan et al. 2010; Lehnardt 2010). Activation of TLR signaling in the CNS also results in the production of inflammatory cytokines, enzymes, and other inflammatory mediators, which contributes to the pathogenesis of CNS microbial infection (Suh et al. 2009) as well as noninfective disorders, such as stroke (Caso et al. 2007), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (Tahara et al. 2006), multiple sclerosis (MS) (Prinz et al. 2006), and chronic pain (Guo and Schluesener 2007; Nicotra et al. 2011; Liu et al. 2012b).

Duke Scholars

Author Ru-Rong Ji Anesthesiology