Toll-like receptor stimulation in cancer: A pro- and anti-tumor double-edged sword

• Published in: Immunobiology (1979) Vol. 222; no. 1; pp. 89 - 100
• Main Authors: Dajon, Marion, Iribarren, Kristina, Cremer, Isabelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier GmbH 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Allergy and Immunology; Animals; Anti-tumoral effect; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Immune cells; Immunity; Immunomodulation - genetics; Neoplasms - immunology; Neoplasms - metabolism; Neoplasms - pathology; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Pro-tumoral effect; Signal Transduction; TLR; TLR signaling; Toll-Like Receptors - agonists; Toll-Like Receptors - genetics; Toll-Like Receptors - metabolism; Tumor cells; Tumor Microenvironment - genetics; Tumor Microenvironment - immunology; TLR signaling; TLR; Immune cells; Anti-tumoral effect; Tumor cells; Pro-tumoral effect
• ISSN: 0171-2985; 1878-3279
• DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2016.06.009

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of transmembrane receptors that recognize various pathogen- and damage-associated molecular pattern molecules playing an important role in inflammation by activating NF-кB. TLRs, mainly expressed by innate immune cells, are involved in inducing and regulating adaptive immune responses. However, the expression of TLRs has also been observed in many tumors, and their stimulation results in tumor progression or regression, depending on the TLR and tumor type. Here we review the role of TLRs in conferring anti- or pro-tumoral effects. The anti-tumoral effects can result from direct induction of tumor cell death and/or activation of efficient anti-tumoral immune responses, and the pro-tumoral effects may be due to inducing tumor cell survival and proliferation or by acting on suppressive or inflammatory immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.