Innate immune sensing of nucleic acid in endodontic infection

Innate immunity is the first line of defence and fights against microorganisms. Nucleic acids are important pathogen‐associated molecular patterns to be recognized in innate immunity. There are three types of nucleic acid sensors, including endosomal sensors (NA‐sensing TLRs), cytosolic DNA sensors (cGAS and AIM2) and cytosolic RNA sensors (RLG‐I, MDA5 and LGP2). Recent studies have shown that nucleic acid sensors are expressed differently in a variety of dental pulp cells and mediate inflammation through complex pathways. Nucleic acid sensing may play a vital role in the development of endodontic infection. This review aims to summarize and analyse the possible roles of various nucleic acid sensors in endodontic infection. It may help better understand the pathogenesis of these diseases and find new strategies for prevention and treatment.