What is the Origin of TLR4/NF-κB Pathway?

The pathway's components were discovered through immunology and molecular biology research in the late 20th century, identifying the mechanism by which the immune system recognizes pathogens. The term's relevance to hormonal health and metabolism is a more recent finding, stemming from studies showing that TLR4 can also be activated by endogenous metabolic signals, such as excess free fatty acids, creating a direct link between overnutrition and systemic inflammation.

What is the Mechanism of TLR4/NF-κB Pathway?

The mechanism begins with TLR4, often located on immune and metabolic cells, binding to its ligand, such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or oxidized lipids. This binding initiates an intracellular cascade

TLR4/NF-κB Pathway ∞ Area

TLR4/NF-κB Pathway

Meaning

The TLR4/NF-κB Pathway is a critical inflammatory signaling cascade in innate immunity that links environmental and metabolic stress signals to the core genetic machinery of inflammation. It represents the molecular intersection where chronic low-grade inflammation, a driver of many metabolic and hormonal disorders, is initiated. Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) is a pattern recognition receptor that senses danger signals, and Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a protein complex that acts as a central transcription factor for pro-inflammatory genes.