Chemokines and Toll-like receptors in Lyme disease pathogenesis

Trends Mol Med. 2005 Mar;11(3):114-20. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2005.01.003.

Abstract

Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted inflammatory disorder, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Recent discoveries cast new light on Bb dissemination and the ensuing pathogenesis of inflammation. Although the strong proinflammatory Bb lipoproteins have been implicated in the induction of inflammation, they do not seem to act exclusively through Toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement. In fact, mice that are deficient for MyD88, a component of the TLR signaling pathway, manifest similar or increased recruitment of cells into Bb-infected tissues. By contrast, the absence of the chemokine receptor CXCR2 results in reduced inflammation. Overall, these findings highlight the complexity of Lyme disease pathogenesis and identify chemokine pathways as novel therapeutic targets for the control of Bb-induced inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Antigens, Differentiation / metabolism
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / chemistry*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / physiology
  • Chemokines / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins / metabolism*
  • Lyme Disease / metabolism
  • Lyme Disease / physiopathology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Toll-Like Receptors

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Chemokines
  • Lipoproteins
  • MYD88 protein, human
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • OspA protein
  • OspC protein
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Receptors, Interleukin-8B
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • OspB protein, Borrelia burgdorferi