Ozoe Atsufumi, Isobe Naoki, Yoshimura Yukinori
Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi, Hiroshima, Japan.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2009 Feb 15;127(3-4):259-68. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2008.10.325. Epub 2008 Nov 5.
The aim of this study was to determine the types of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) expressed in the hen oviduct, and to confirm that vaginal tissue expressing TLR4 responds to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Healthy laying hens were intravenously or intravaginally injected with LPS, PBS or untreated. The expression pattern of TLRs in the whole oviduct and the effects of LPS on TLR4 and IL-1beta in the vagina were examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The population of cells containing TLR4 protein was examined by immunohistochemistry. The expression of 6 types of TLRs (TLR1 type 2, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5 and TLR7) were identified in all segments of the oviduct. The densities of PCR products for each TLR showed a tendency to be greater in the vagina than in the magnum and isthmus. Immunoreactive TLR4 was localized in the epithelial cells and leukocytes in the isthmus, uterus and vagina. Intravenous injection with LPS increased the TLR4 expression and the population of TLR4-immunopositive cells in the vagina. Intravaginal injection with LPS resulted in the increase of leukocytes in the mucosal tissues in association with an increase of TLR4 expression and TLR4-immunopositive cells in the vagina. The IL-1beta expression was also enhanced in a similar manner to that of TLR4. These results suggest that the hen oviduct expresses at least 6 types of TLRs including TLR4 with a greater expression in the vagina. Vaginal tissue expressing TLR4 responds to LPS and in turn upregulate cellular functions to synthesize cytokines. Such expression and functions of TLRs may play an essential role in oviductal innate immunity for host defense.
本研究旨在确定母鸡输卵管中表达的Toll样受体（TLR）类型，并证实表达TLR4的阴道组织对脂多糖（LPS）有反应。将健康的产蛋母鸡静脉内或阴道内注射LPS、磷酸盐缓冲盐水（PBS）或不进行处理。通过半定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测整个输卵管中TLR的表达模式以及LPS对阴道中TLR4和白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）的影响。通过免疫组织化学检测含有TLR4蛋白的细胞群体。在输卵管的所有节段中均鉴定出6种TLR（TLR1型2、TLR2、TLR3、TLR4、TLR5和TLR7）的表达。每个TLR的聚合酶链反应（PCR）产物密度在阴道中显示出比在蛋白分泌部和峡部更高的趋势。免疫反应性TLR4定位于峡部、子宫和阴道的上皮细胞和白细胞中。静脉注射LPS可增加阴道中TLR4的表达以及TLR4免疫阳性细胞的数量。阴道内注射LPS导致黏膜组织中白细胞增加，同时阴道中TLR4表达和TLR4免疫阳性细胞也增加。IL-1β的表达也以与TLR4相似的方式增强。这些结果表明，母鸡输卵管表达至少6种TLR，包括TLR4，且在阴道中表达更高。表达TLR4的阴道组织对LPS有反应，进而上调细胞功能以合成细胞因子。TLR的这种表达和功能可能在输卵管的宿主防御固有免疫中起重要作用。
