5. Perspectives
Currently, massive evidences have shown that NOD2 is not only an
intracellular PRR for MDP, but more importantly, a buffer for
maintaining immune homeostasis. By binding to various molecules or
undergoing different post-translational modifications, NOD2 can trigger
diverse immune responses, including the secretion of pro-inflammatory
cytokines, lymphocyte activation, autophagy regulation, synergistic
interactions with other pattern recognition receptors, immune training,
immune tolerance, etc. These diverse functions also determine that NOD2
may play different roles in acute infections, chronic infections, or
autoimmune diseases. Therefore, regulating NOD2 activity is a promising
strategy for the treatment of these diseases, which requires more
in-depth research on the roles of NOD2 in different immune environments.