Simple synthetic toll-like receptor 2 ligands.

Stimulation of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) by bacterial lipoproteins induces fast non-specific immune responses against pathogens followed by slow but specific adaptive immune responses. Development of synthetic TLR2 agonists/antagonists would be useful in the prevention of different infectious and immunologic disorders. The current study reports synthesis and TLR2 activity of two simple TLR2 ligands, which feature minimal structural requirement for TLR2 activity (two long lipid chains) and stimulate agonistic activity at nanomolar concentration.