The other side of scavenger receptors: pattern recognition for host defense.

Scavenger receptors bind modified lipoproteins and may play an important role both in normal and in pathological lipid metabolism. A number of different classes of scavenger receptors have been identified and several of these are multiligand receptors. Studies, both in vitro and in vivo, have indicated that at least some of these scavenger receptors may serve as pattern recognition receptors because they are able to bind a wide variety of pathogens. As a consequence, they may play key roles in innate immunity and host defense.