Biopolym. Cell. 2014; 30(5):329-334.
Reviews
Relationship between TLR4 signalling alterations and effective human cytomegalovirus infection
1, 2Germini D., 2Arcangeletti M. C.
  1. CNRS UMR 8126, Universit Paris-Sud 11, Institut Gustave Roussy
    114, rue Edouard Vaillant, Villejuif, France, 94805
  2. Unit of Microbiology and Virology; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine;
    University of Parma
    via Antonio Gramsci 14, Parma, Italy, 43126
Toll-like receptors (TLR), the main class of immune-sensor molecules triggering the innate immunity pathways, are known to be involved in the infection of different RNA and DNA viruses, including herpesviruses. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread human beta-herpesvirus that infects 80–90 % of the world’s population and it can cause severe and even fatal diseases in immunocompromised patients and it is also responsible for birth defects as a consequence of congenital infection. Aim of this review is to discuss the existing data regarding the role of TLRs in HCMV concentrating mainly on TLR4. A better understanding in this relationship could be exploited for the development of efficient early diagnosis methodologies and anti viral therapies.
Keywords: human cytomegalovirus, Toll-like receptors, innate immune response