The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family which plays a fundamental role in pathogen recognition and activation of innate immunity. TLRs are highly conserved from Drosophila to humans and share structural and functional similarities. They recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are expressed on infectious agents, and mediate the production of cytokines necessary for the development of effective immunity. The various TLRs exhibit different patterns of expression. This gene is expressed most abundantly in peripheral blood leukocytes, and mediates host response to Gram-positive bacteria and yeast via stimulation of NF-kappaB. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

TLR2: Cooperates with LY96 to mediate the innate immune response to bacterial lipoproteins and other microbial cell wall components. Cooperates with TLR1 to mediate the innate immune response to bacterial lipoproteins or lipopeptides. Acts via MYD88 and TRAF6, leading to NF-kappa-B activation, cytokine secretion and the inflammatory response. May also promote apoptosis in response to lipoproteins. Recognizes mycoplasmal macrophage- activating lipopeptide-2kD (MALP-2), soluble tuberculosis factor (STF), phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) and B.burgdorferi outer surface protein A lipoprotein (OspA-L) cooperatively with TLR6. Interacts with LY96, TLR1 and TLR6 (via extracellular domain). Binds MYD88 (via TIR domain). Interacts with TICAM1. Ligand binding induces the formation of a heterodimer with TLR1. Interacts with CNPY3. Highly expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes, in particular in monocytes, in bone marrow, lymph node and in spleen. Also detected in lung and in fetal liver. Levels are low in other tissues. Belongs to the Toll-like receptor family.

Protein type: Cell surface; Motility/polarity/chemotaxis; Apoptosis; Receptor, misc.; Membrane protein, integral

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 4q32

Cellular Component: cell projection; cell surface; integral to plasma membrane; cytoplasm; plasma membrane; external side of plasma membrane

Molecular Function: protein binding; peptidoglycan binding; transmembrane receptor activity; triacylated lipoprotein binding; protein heterodimerization activity; lipopolysaccharide receptor activity; receptor activity; pattern recognition receptor activity; diacylated lipoprotein binding

Biological Process: positive regulation of nitric oxide biosynthetic process; response to toxin; positive regulation of leukocyte migration; leukotriene metabolic process; positive regulation of NF-kappaB import into nucleus; detection of triacylated bacterial lipoprotein; positive regulation of interleukin-10 production; activation of NF-kappaB transcription factor; positive regulation of interferon-beta production; positive regulation of oligodendrocyte differentiation; toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway; negative regulation of interleukin-12 production; detection of diacylated bacterial lipoprotein; cell surface pattern recognition receptor signaling pathway; positive regulation of interleukin-6 production; positive regulation of tumor necrosis factor production; positive regulation of chemokine production; toll-like receptor 2 signaling pathway; defense response to Gram-positive bacterium; myelin formation in the central nervous system; positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; response to progesterone stimulus; I-kappaB phosphorylation; positive regulation of nitric-oxide synthase biosynthetic process; apoptosis; positive regulation of interleukin-12 production; microglial cell activation; response to molecule of fungal origin; signal transduction; positive regulation of interleukin-18 production; nitric oxide metabolic process; response to insulin stimulus; positive regulation of interleukin-8 production; negative regulation of cell proliferation; lipopolysaccharide-mediated signaling pathway; inflammatory response; positive regulation of Wnt receptor signaling pathway; positive regulation of tumor necrosis factor biosynthetic process; positive regulation of toll-like receptor signaling pathway; induction by symbiont of defense-related host nitric oxide production; MyD88-dependent toll-like receptor signaling pathway; negative regulation of interleukin-17 production; toll-like receptor signaling pathway; response to hypoxia; innate immune response; immune response; chloramphenicol transport; positive regulation of inflammatory response; positive regulation of cytokine secretion

Disease: Leprosy, Susceptibility To, 3; Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Susceptibility To