Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and this occurs as donor T lymphocytes, activated by recipient antigen presenting cells (APC), attack the host tissues or organs. This APC activation is a crucial initial step of influencing the outcome of GVHD and is mediated by innate immune signaling. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are important components of innate immunity; both families of receptors are known for sensing various microbial ligands or danger signals. Signaling through TLRs/NLRs regulate activities of APCs, through phagocytosis, cytokine and chemokine release, delivery of APCs from peripheral tissues to draining lymph nodes, and antigen presentation. Several TLRs/NLRs have been identified and their ligands and signaling pathways have been described. Recent findings suggest a significant association of TLR/NLR polymorphisms with the increased risk for severe GVHD. Therefore, these TLR/NLR pathways likely contributing to immune response for GVHD may serve as novel therapeutic targets to facilitate allograft tolerance. This review summarizes the role of TLRs/NLRs innate immune receptors and signaling in GVHD pathophysiology.
Antigen Presentation ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Cell Transplantation ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Ligands ; Lymph Nodes ; Phagocytosis ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tissue Donors ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Transplantation Tolerance ; Transplants

Arthonia dokdoensis sp. nov., a lichenicolous fungus from the subcosmopolitan Arthonia molendoi complex growing on crustose thalli of species of the genus Orientophila (subfamily Xanthorioideae, Teloschistaceae), as well as the lichen species Rufoplaca toktoana sp. nov. (subfamily Caloplacoideae, Teloschistaceae) similar to Rufoplaca kaernefeltiana, both from Dokdo Islands, Republic of Korea, are described, illustrated, and compared with closely related taxa. In the phylogenetic tree of the Arthoniaceae based on 12S mtSSU and RPB2 gene sequences, the phylogenetic position of the A. dokdoensis and the relationship with the A. molendoi group are illustrated, while the position of the newly described R. toktoana is confirmed by phylogenetic tree based on ITS nrDNA data.