The innate immune response: an important partner in shaping coxsackievirus-mediated autoimmunity.

To protect against viral infection, the immune response is critically dependent on innate sensing mechanisms to provide rapid detection of pathogens and allow for the development of an appropriate adaptive immune response. Mounting evidence suggests that mechanistic differences in the sensing of viruses by the innate immune response can contribute to the development of autoimmunity. Coxsackieviruses are common human pathogens that have been linked to the induction of autoimmune diseases such as chronic autoimmune myocarditis and type 1 diabetes. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge of the interactions between coxsackievirus and the innate immune system and how these interactions can potentially lead to the induction of autoimmune diseases. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.