Latest Advances in Small Molecule TLR 7/8 Agonist Drug Research

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 7 and 8 play an important role in the activation of innate immune cells in mammals. These evolutionarily conserved receptors serve as important sentinels in response to infection. Activation of TLRs 7 and 8 triggers induction of a Th1 type innate immune response. The emergence of new structural and small molecule information generated in the last decade has contributed enormously to our understanding of this highly sophisticated process of innate immunity signaling. This review will focus on recent developments in the small molecule activation of TLR 7 and 8.