Nucleotide-binding Oligomerization Domain-2 Inhibits Toll Like Receptor-4 Signaling in the Intestinal Epithelium

摘要

Background & AimsFactors that regulate enterocyte apoptosis in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remain incompletely understood, although Toll like receptor-4 (TLR4) signaling in enterocytes plays a major role. Nucleotide-binding-oligomerization domain-2 (NOD2) is an immune receptor that regulates other branches of the immune system, although its effects on TLR4 in enterocytes and role in NEC remain unknown. We now hypothesize that activation of NOD2 in the newborn intestine inhibits TLR4, and that failure of NOD2 signaling leads to NEC through increased TLR4-mediated enterocyte apoptosis.