Innate Immunity Cell Identity Markers

Rapid responses to invading pathogens are mediated by the cells and humoral factors of the innate immune system. These responses are activated by the interaction between pathogen antigens and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), localized to the surface or intracellular compartments of innate immune cells. This initial response is somewhat generic, as receptors are only able to recognize a limited repertoire of motifs from pathogen-derived molecules including lipopolysaccharides, lipoproteins and nucleic acids, collectively referred to as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs).

In addition to PAMPs, innate immune cells respond to molecular patterns associated with tissue injury or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). These are cell-derived molecules induced by stress or injury which may be released even in the absence of infection. Both PAMPs and DAMPs engage innate cellular mediators, including cytotoxic and phagocytic cells via interaction with Toll-like (TLRs), NOD-like, RIG-I-like and AIM2-like receptors. Soluble mediators of the innate response include cytokines, complement and acute phase proteins.

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