Tollliknande

Tollliknande is a Swedish term used in biology to describe receptors or signaling processes that resemble Toll-like receptors (TLRs). The word translates roughly as “Toll-like” in English and is commonly applied when discussing components of the innate immune system that recognize conserved microbial or danger signals.

Origin and usage: The name Toll originates from the Drosophila gene Toll, identified in fruit flies and later linked to vertebrate immunity. Tollliknande is used to refer to receptors with similar structural features, signaling pathways, or functional roles as TLRs, even when they are not canonical Toll-like receptors themselves.

Function and mechanism: Toll-like receptors are pattern recognition receptors that detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Upon ligand binding, many TLRs recruit adaptor proteins such as MyD88 or TRIF, initiating signaling cascades that activate transcription factors like NF-kB and IRFs, leading to cytokine production and type I interferon responses. Tollliknande elements are discussed in relation to these receptors when they evoke comparable signaling outcomes or share a similar mode of action.

Examples: In humans, the Toll-like receptor family includes TLR1 through TLR10, each recognizing distinct ligands such as lipoproteins (TLR1/2), lipopolysaccharide (TLR4), flagellin (TLR5), double-stranded RNA (TLR3), and unmethylated CpG DNA (TLR9). Discussions of tollliknande components often encompass these receptors and related molecules that activate similar signaling cascades.

Clinical relevance: TLRs contribute to infectious disease responses, sepsis, autoimmune conditions, and cancer. They are targets for vaccine adjuvants and therapies that modulate inflammation.

See also: Toll-like receptor; pattern recognition receptor; innate immunity; sepsis; vaccine adjuvant.