Activation of innate immune responses by nucleic acids is crucial to protective and pathological immunities. This activation is known to be mediated by transmembrane Toll-like receptors and cytosolic receptors; however, it remains unclear whether a mechanism exists that integrates these two nucleic-acid-sensing systems. High-mobility group box (HMGB) proteins 1, 2 and 3 are now shown to function as universal sentinels for nucleic-acid-mediated innate immune responses.
- Hideyuki Yanai
- Tatsuma Ban
- Tadatsugu Taniguchi
