Role integrin receptors in recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns and innate immunity

先天免疫是一种古老的机制，用于快速检测入侵微生物并启动宿主防御。人体有多种细胞受体来识别“危险信号”，即各种微生物的典型分子结构。这种识别将向身体发出信号，表明有损伤或疾病的危险。我假设存在于肺上皮细胞表面的整合素作为受体来识别潜在的有害结构，例如病原细菌的产物。然后，整合素可以启动信号机制，修改细胞功能，以确保对入侵者的适当反应。在本项目中，我计划研究整合素作为模式识别受体的分子机制。我打算了解整合素如何促进身体的先天免疫防御，特别是它们如何帮助对抗一些由致病菌引起的疾病。我的研究结果将对更好地理解宿主防御病原微生物的先天免疫机制具有重要意义。

The innate immunity is an ancient mechanism serving to rapidly detect invading microorganisms and to initiate host defense. The body has a wide array of cellular receptors to recognize "the danger signals", i.e. some molecular structures typical for various microorganisms. Such recognition will signal the body that there is a danger of a damage or disease. I hypothesize that integrins which are present on the surface of epithelial cells in the lungs serve as receptors to recognize potentially harmful structures, for example, products by pathogenic bacteria. Integrins can then initiate signaling mechanisms that will modify cellular functions to ensure the proper response to the invaders. In this project, I plan to investigate molecular mechanisms of integrin function as pattern recognition receptors. I intend to understand how integrins contribute to the innate immune defense of the body, in particular, how they can help to fight some diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria. The results of my studies will be important for better understanding of mechanisms of innate immunity which are fundamental in host defense against pathogenic microorganisms.