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Introduction

Toll Receptors and the Renaissance of Innate Immunity

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Toll and Toll-Like Receptors: An Immunologic Perspective

Part of the book series: Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit ((MBIU))

Abstract

In the last few pages of Immunology: The Science of Self-Nonself Discrimination Jan Klein ponders on what he would study if he were to start over in the lab. Dismissing the antibody, MHC, the T-cell and parasitology, he considers instead the phylogeny of immune reactions, particularly in ancient phyla. As for a favored cell he chooses the macrophage. Describing it as a “MddchenfUr alles,” (all purpose kitchen maid) Klein believed that this immunocyte still had secrets to reveal. Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) biology would prove to be one of these secrets. Analyses of the evolution of these receptors (Tolls and TLRs) have also helped us to rethink immune system phylogeny. In the first part of this chapter the history of the discovery of Toll and TLR biology is described. The evolution of the TLR genes and theories of immune function are covered in later sections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Brighton, Brighton, East Sussex, UK

    Elizabeth H. Bassett

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Tina Rich Ph.D.

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  1. Elizabeth H. Bassett
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  2. Tina Rich Ph.D.
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Bassett, E.H., Rich, T. (2005). Introduction. In: Toll and Toll-Like Receptors: An Immunologic Perspective. Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-27445-6_1

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