Evaluation of CD14 in host defence

An extensive search for the cell membrane targets for lipopolysaccharide (L PS), the major causative agent of Gram-negative septic shock, resulted in t he identification of CD14 as the major endotoxin 'receptor'. Besides recogn ition of LPS, several new aspects of its biological functions have been des cribed recently. In this review the different CD14 forms, their most import ant biological and biochemical features, signalling properties, cellular an d subcellular distribution and association with different diseases are disc ussed in detail, showing that these molecules posses several unique biologi cal functions and further proving their central role in innate immunity.