Toll-like receptors and diabetes complications: recent advances.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease with constellation of metabolic aberrations resulting in debilitating complications. The prevalence of DM worldwide was 2.8% (171 million people) in 2000 and estimated to be at 4.4% (366 million people) in 2030. DM is a major risk factor for heart, kidney diseases, and lower limb amputations. Emerging in vitro and in vivo data suggest that systemic inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of DM complications via innate immune receptors. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key innate immune receptors that mediate the inflammatory responses in DM. There are no reviews that collectively summarize and examine the detrimental role of TLRs in the manifestation of DM complications namely heart disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, and wound healing. Thus, in this review, we will provide summaries of the TLR expression and activation and elucidate their role in propagating inflammation seen in DM complications.