Abstract

The toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling network is the main part of the mammalian immune system. It is activated by the pathogenic ligands producing immunological responses. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the system level properties of the TLR signaling network aiming to decipher the complex network structure for drug target identification in immunological disorders. The network of molecular interactions in TLR signaling is decomposed into fundamental routes from ligands to cellular responses to gain insights about the working mechanisms of the mammalian immune system. The employment of the network decomposition analysis enlightened the network properties, such as participation of molecules in a variety of responses, pathway cross-talk, and specific molecules for each phenotype. Critical investigation of the results indicates the key components in the regulation of immunological responses giving chance to unravel the causes of the disorders.

Key words: Signaling network, toll-like receptor, immunological response, network decomposition analysis, drug target.