Toll-like receptors in epithelial mechanics and surveillance
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) were first idenAfied as developmental cues that establish the dorsal-ventral axis in Drosophila. This discovery was followed by the recogniAon of their central role in invertebrate and vertebrate innate immunity. Here we review an addiAonal set of discoveries that establishes the role of TLRs in epithelial Assue dynamics and surveillance in Drosophila. A growing body of work reveals that, largely independent of their canonical signalling, TLRs guide Assue mechanics. SpaAal paLerns of TLR localisaAon control collecAve cell movements and large-scale morphogenesis by modulaAng cell contracAlity. Intriguingly, the same TLRs also enable Assues to recognise and remove unfit or misplaced cells, revealing their essenAal funcAon in Assue surveillance during development. Across these contexts, TLRs act as sensors that integrate posiAonal informaAon, mechanical forces, and cell idenAty. By tracing the path from early embryonic paLerning to immunity, mechanics and finally Assue surveillance, this review highlights how the evoluAonarily conserved TLR family conAnues to refine our understanding of how Assues shape, maintain, and protect themselves.
Related
- Epithelial mechanics in a three-dimensional cell vertex model with local junctional constraints
- Isoform-selective modulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors by quercetin and apigenin revealed through molecular simulations
- Structural basis of endogenous inverse agonism and subtype selectivity at melanocortin receptors
- Influence of age and physical fitness on miRNA-21, TGF-β and its receptors in leukocytes of healthy women
- Artificial Avidity Optimization of T-cell Receptors by Integrating Deep Learning Model and Mammalian Cell Surface Display
BibTeX
@article{gartner2026tolllike,
title = {{Toll-like receptors in epithelial mechanics and surveillance}},
author = {Fabian Gärtner and Lale Alpar and Yohanns Bellaïche},
journal = {Cells \& Development},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1016/j.cdev.2026.204094},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05767926v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Toll-like receptors in epithelial mechanics and surveillance
AU - Fabian Gärtner
AU - Lale Alpar
AU - Yohanns Bellaïche
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/21
JO - Cells & Development
DO - 10.1016/j.cdev.2026.204094
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05767926v1
AB - Toll-like receptors (TLRs) were first idenAfied as developmental cues that establish the dorsal-ventral axis in Drosophila. This discovery was followed by the recogniAon of their central role in invertebrate and vertebrate innate immunity. Here we review an addiAonal set of discoveries that establishes the role of TLRs in epithelial Assue dynamics and surveillance in Drosophila. A growing body of work reveals that, largely independent of their canonical signalling, TLRs guide Assue mechanics. SpaAal paLerns of TLR localisaAon control collecAve cell movements and large-scale morphogenesis by modulaAng cell contracAlity. Intriguingly, the same TLRs also enable Assues to recognise and remove unfit or misplaced cells, revealing their essenAal funcAon in Assue surveillance during development. Across these contexts, TLRs act as sensors that integrate posiAonal informaAon, mechanical forces, and cell idenAty. By tracing the path from early embryonic paLerning to immunity, mechanics and finally Assue surveillance, this review highlights how the evoluAonarily conserved TLR family conAnues to refine our understanding of how Assues shape, maintain, and protect themselves.
SN - 2667-2901
ER -