Characterization of Toll-like receptors in the female reproductive tract in humans
Characterization of Toll-like receptors in the female reproductive tract in humans
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DOI：
10.1093/humrep/deh775
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发表时间：
2005-05-01
影响因子：
6.1
通讯作者：
Anumba, DO
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Fazeli, A;Bruce, C;Anumba, DO
背景技术背景：针对感染的快速先天免疫防御涉及通过最近归因于Toll样受体（TLR）家族的特异性模式识别受体识别入侵病原体。关于TLR在人类女性生殖道中的体内蛋白表达或分布知之甚少。TLR在女性生殖道中的分布可能反映了对生殖道下部（阴道、宫颈外口和部分宫颈内口）的阴道微生物的免疫耐受性以及对上生殖道（子宫和输卵管）的阴道微生物植物群的不耐受性。方法：使用免疫组织化学技术，分布TLR 1 -6的研究，从阴道，外宫和子宫颈内膜，子宫内膜和输卵管，从接受腹式子宫切除术的良性妇科疾病的患者获得的手术切片。结果：TLR 1、2、3、5、6在女性生殖道不同部位的上皮细胞中均有表达。然而，TLR 4仅存在于宫颈内膜、子宫内膜和输卵管中，而在阴道和外宫颈中不存在。此外，分泌形式的TLR 4似乎是由宫颈内腺产生的。结论：TLR 4可能在调节雌性生殖道下部的免疫耐受和宿主防御上行感染中起重要作用。
BACKGROUND: Rapid innate immune defences against infection involve the recognition of invading pathogens by specific pattern recognition receptors recently attributed to the family of Toll-like receptors (TLR). Little is known about the in vivo protein expression or distribution of TLR in the female reproductive tract in humans. It is likely that TLR distribution in the female reproductive tract reflects the immunological tolerance to the commensal organisms in lower parts of the tract (vagina, ectocervix and, partially, endocervix) and the intolerance to commensal microbial flora in the upper tract (the uterus and uterine tubes). METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry techniques, distribution of TLR1-6 was studied in surgical sections from the vagina, ecto- and endocervix, endometrium and uterine tubes, obtained from patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy for benign gynaecological conditions. RESULTS: TLR1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 were present in the epithelia of different regions of female reproductive tract. However, TLR4 was only present in the endocervix, endometrium and uterine tubes and absent in vagina and ectocervix. In addition, a secretory form of TLR4 seems to be produced by the endocervical glands. CONCLUSION: TLR4 may play an important role in modulation of immunological tolerance in the lower parts of the female reproductive tract, and in host defence against ascending infection.