TY - JOUR
T1 - Toll-like receptor and antimicrobial peptide expression in the bovine endometrium
AU - Davies, Darren
AU - Meade, Kieran G.
AU - Herath, Shan
AU - David, P. David
AU - Gonzalez, Deyarina
AU - White, John O.
AU - Steven, R. Steven
AU - O'Farrelly, Cliona
AU - Martin, I. Martin
N1 - Funding Information:
Martin Sheldon is a BBSRC Research Development Fellow (Grant No. BB/ D02028X/1) and Darren Davies was a BBSRC CASE Student (BBS/S/N/ 2005/12367). The work was partly funded under a DEFRA LINK award by Pfizer Animal Health and BBSRC (F005121).
Funding Information:
IMS holds research funding under a Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) LINK award from Pfizer Animal Health and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC; F005121). Darren Davies was supported by a BBSRC CASE Studentship partly funded by Pfizer Animal Health (BBS/S/N/ 2005/12367). The remaining authors declare that they have no competing interests.
PY - 2008/11/18
Y1 - 2008/11/18
N2 - Background: The endometrium is commonly infected with bacteria leading to severe disease of the uterus in cattle and humans. The endometrial epithelium is the first line of defence for this mucosal surface against bacteria and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a critical component of the innate immune system for detection of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Antimicrobial peptides, acute phase proteins and Mucin-1 (MUC-1) also provide non-specific defences against microbes on mucosal surfaces. The present study examined the expression of innate immune defences in the bovine endometrium and tested the hypothesis that endometrial epithelial cells express functional receptors of the TLR family and the non-specific effector molecules for defence against bacteria. Methods: Bovine endometrial tissue and purified populations of primary epithelial and stromal cells were examined using RT-PCR for gene expression of TLRs, antimicrobial peptides and MUC-1. Functional responses were tested by evaluating the secretion of prostaglandin E2 and acute phase proteins when cells were treated with bacterial PAMPs such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoproteins. Results: The endometrium expressed TLRs 1 to 10, whilst purified populations of epithelial cells expressed TLRs 1 to 7 and 9, and stromal cells expressed TLRs 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10. The TLRs appear to be functional as epithelial cells secreted prostaglandin E2 in response to bacterial PAMPs. In addition, the epithelial cells expressed antimicrobial peptides, such as Tracheal and Lingual Antimicrobial Peptides (TAP and LAP) and MUC-1, which were upregulated when the cells were treated with LPS. However, the epithelial cells did not express appreciable amounts of the acute phase proteins haptoglobin or serum amyloid A. Conclusion: Epithelial cells have an essential role in the orchestration of innate immune defence of the bovine endometrium and are likely to be the key to prevention of endometrial infection with bacteria.
AB - Background: The endometrium is commonly infected with bacteria leading to severe disease of the uterus in cattle and humans. The endometrial epithelium is the first line of defence for this mucosal surface against bacteria and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a critical component of the innate immune system for detection of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Antimicrobial peptides, acute phase proteins and Mucin-1 (MUC-1) also provide non-specific defences against microbes on mucosal surfaces. The present study examined the expression of innate immune defences in the bovine endometrium and tested the hypothesis that endometrial epithelial cells express functional receptors of the TLR family and the non-specific effector molecules for defence against bacteria. Methods: Bovine endometrial tissue and purified populations of primary epithelial and stromal cells were examined using RT-PCR for gene expression of TLRs, antimicrobial peptides and MUC-1. Functional responses were tested by evaluating the secretion of prostaglandin E2 and acute phase proteins when cells were treated with bacterial PAMPs such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoproteins. Results: The endometrium expressed TLRs 1 to 10, whilst purified populations of epithelial cells expressed TLRs 1 to 7 and 9, and stromal cells expressed TLRs 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10. The TLRs appear to be functional as epithelial cells secreted prostaglandin E2 in response to bacterial PAMPs. In addition, the epithelial cells expressed antimicrobial peptides, such as Tracheal and Lingual Antimicrobial Peptides (TAP and LAP) and MUC-1, which were upregulated when the cells were treated with LPS. However, the epithelial cells did not express appreciable amounts of the acute phase proteins haptoglobin or serum amyloid A. Conclusion: Epithelial cells have an essential role in the orchestration of innate immune defence of the bovine endometrium and are likely to be the key to prevention of endometrial infection with bacteria.
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U2 - 10.1186/1477-7827-6-53
DO - 10.1186/1477-7827-6-53
M3 - Article
C2 - 19017375
AN - SCOPUS:58749111826
SN - 1477-7827
VL - 6
JO - Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
JF - Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
M1 - 53
ER -