Title:Unlocking Toll-Like Receptors: Targeting Therapeutics for Respiratory Tract Infections and Inflammatory Disorders
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Author(s): Vishal Pandey, Debasis Sen, Sunny Rathee, Sakshi Soni, Shashank Mishra, Sanjay K. Jain and Umesh K. Patil*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya
Pradesh, 470003, India
Keywords:
TLRs, MyD88, inflammation, COVID-19, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, viral myocarditis, herbal drugs for TLRs.
Abstract: The Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) family has significantly enhanced the understanding of
innate immune responses by identifying and responding to various microbes or host-derived organisms.
TLRs contribute to these responses by increasing the levels of cytokines, interleukins,
and other inflammatory mediators through multiple pathways. Located both intracellularly and on
the surface of various cells and tissues, including vascular smooth muscles (VSMs) and myocardium
cells, TLRs play distinct roles in innate immune activation, such as recognizing pathogen-associated
molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activating downstream signaling pathways. In the context
of COVID-19, TLRs are critically involved in the pathophysiology by mediating excessive inflammatory
responses that exacerbate disease severity, influencing both the acute phase and long-term
outcomes. It has been observed that inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, viral myocarditis,
and other comorbidities associated with the spread of COVID-19 have increased, although the
exact mechanisms remain not fully understood. Nonetheless, there is evidence of TLR-mediated
increased pro-inflammatory signaling by different mechanisms in these diseases. This review explains
the role of TLRs in various inflammatory diseases related to COVID-19, including viral myocarditis,
acute lung infections, and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the review discusses various herbal
drugs, such as Platycodon grandiflorum, Acanthopanax senticosus, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi,
and Engelhardia roxburghiana, and their mechanisms of action on TLRs, including NF-κB,
MyD88-dependent, MyD88-independent pathways, and Plasmacytoid DCs. Enhanced clarity on
TLRs' specific contributions to COVID-19 pathophysiology and stronger evidence supporting herbal
interventions targeting TLRs could improve the impact and applicability of these findings in
clinical settings.
