Mutations in toll-like receptor 3 are associated with elevated levels of rotavirus-specific IgG antibodies in IgA-deficient but not IgA-sufficient individuals.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) triggers immune-mediated responses through toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), which is involved in innate antiviral defense. Low expression of TLR3 was recently suggested to contribute to susceptibility to rotavirus infection. Thus, we investigated the role of two TLR3 polymorphisms (rs3775291 and rs5743305), both of which resulted in reduced protein function or expression, in healthy blood donors and IgA-deficient (IgAD) individuals. These polymorphisms were associated with elevated rotavirus-specific IgG titers in IgAD individuals but not in healthy individuals. Thus, we propose that TLR3 signaling does not contribute to the rotavirus-specific antibody response in IgA-sufficient individuals, whereas it is associated with elevated antibody titers in IgAD individuals.