NOD1 and NOD2 Are Cytoplasmic Sensors of Bacterial Products Such

Essay

NOD1 and NOD2 are cytoplasmic sensors of bacterial products such as muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a constituent in the peptidoglycans of most bacteria. These sensors are highly expressed in epithelial cells that line the body surfaces that pathogens must cross to establish an infection. Interestingly, a subset of patients with an inflammatory bowel disease called 'Crohn's disease' have inactivating mutations in NOD2. Why might this deficiency in NOD2 lead to chronic inflammation in the gut?