Description
Chloroquine is a weak base which can partition into acidic vesicles such as endosomes and lysosomes, resulting in inhibition of endosomal acidification and lysosomal enzyme activity. Because acidic pH of endosomes is a prerequisite of endosomal TLR activation, chloroquine can serve as an antagonist for endosomal TLRs. Chloroquine and its analog quinacrine are also known to act as therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, of which therapeutic activity is due to suppression of TLR9 activity as shown by researchers.
