Figure 1

Role of PRRs in mediating inflammation and organ injury. Infection causes PAMP release, but also causes tissue and cell damage and subsequent DAMP release. Similarly, injury caused by trauma or various other factors not only leads to DAMP release but also renders the patient more susceptible to infection and therefore PAMP release. In turn, the PAMPs and DAMPs act through PRRs, which include TLRs, NLRs and RLRs, to activate the innate immune system, yet they can also contribute to persistent and deleterious systemic inflammation and organ injury, including ALI.