Skip to main content

Pattern Recognition Receptors

Meaning

Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) are a crucial class of innate immune system proteins, which exist both as transmembrane and cytosolic structures, responsible for detecting highly conserved molecular structures associated with pathogens (PAMPs) or damaged host cells (DAMPs). Their swift and appropriate activation is the initial, non-specific step in triggering the inflammatory response and subsequent activation of the adaptive immune system. The complex interplay between an individual’s hormonal status and PRR signaling is a key area of study in the emerging fields of neuroendocrinology and immunometabolism.