Toll样受体在烟曲霉侵染宿主细胞过程中作用的研究进展

烟曲霉侵染宿主细胞时伴有明显的细胞肌动蛋白骨架重排,而重要模式识别受体PRRs(pattern recognition receptors)之一,Toll样受体(Toll-like receptors,TLR)参与调节病原细菌诱导的宿主细胞肌动蛋白骨架重排,其中TLR2和TLR4两亚型可以识别烟曲霉的病原相关分子模式PAMP(pathogen-assosiated molecular patterns),并诱发炎症因子表达等一系列效应信号,在宿主细胞抗烟曲霉天然免疫中发挥重要作用,但在烟曲霉内化侵入过程中TLR能否特异性介导细胞肌动蛋白骨架重排尚不清楚。因此,研究揭示TLR激活在烟曲霉侵入宿主细胞的调控作用,对寻找可能的抗真菌药物作用靶点具有重要意义。     

肾炎致病原重组受体相关蛋白的表达及纯化

用pGEX载体系统体外构建了Heymann肾炎致病原受体相关蛋白(RAP)重组表达质粒,经IPTG诱导,该质粒表达的融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中得到了高效表达,其表达量达39．4％,经GST-Sephrose 4B亲和层析,得到了高度纯化,其诱导产生的抗体经蛋白质印迹法分析证明能识别肾皮质天然抗原44ku受体相关蛋白.RAP表达及纯化的成功为研究致病原病理性表型提供了有利条件．     

Toll样受体对病原寄生虫的天然免疫识别

Toll样受体是机体天然免疫系统最重要的模式识别受体之一,通过识别病原寄生虫的病原相关分子模式,活化依赖和非依赖于髓样分化因子88的信号转导通路,诱导干扰素、炎症因子、趋化因子等的表达以及树突状细胞的成熟,抵御病原寄生虫的感染。因此,以下综述了Toll样受体对原病寄生虫,尤其对动物寄生性原虫与蠕虫感染的模式识别与天然免疫应答机制,以进一步理解病原寄生虫与宿主相互作用的复杂性,为寄生虫病的有效防治提供理论参考。     

Toll样受体对病原真菌的天然免疫识别

天然免疫系统是宿主抵御病原入侵的第一道防线,在机体抗感染免疫中发挥重要作用。Toll样受体(Toll-like receptors,TLRs)是天然免疫系统最重要的模式识别受体(pattern recognitionreceptors,PRRs)之一,通过识别病原真菌的病原相关分子模式(pathogen-associated molecularpatterns,PAMPs),招募特异接头蛋白,激活一系列信号级联反应,引发炎症因子、趋化因子等的释放和树突状细胞(dendritic cells,DCs)的成熟,发挥抗真菌感染作用。通过简要介绍宿主的TLRs及信号通路的研究进展,总结了目前TLRs对不同病原真菌PAMPs的天然免疫识别及信号通路研究现状,以期对进一步研究宿主天然免疫系统与病原真菌相互作用的分子机制提供参考。     

TLR4及其作用的研究进展

Toll样受体(toll-like receptors,TLRs)因其积极的研究成果而成为近年来广受关注的一种病原体识别受体,TLRs分布相对比较广泛,不但在小肠上皮、呼吸上皮细胞表达,同时也在血管内皮细胞、树突状细胞[1]、大鼠脾及心肌细胞[2]等细胞中表达.研究证实,它属于模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptors,PRRs),病原相关分子模式(pathogen-associated molecule pattern,PAMPs)可被其辨别,然后引发一系列的信号转导,TLRs 是备受关注的一种PRRs.Toll样受体4(toll-like receptor 4,TLR4)是TLRs家族中极为重要的成员,是天然免疫系统识别病原微生物的主要受体,在天然免疫反应中扮演着关键性作用.细菌脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)作为一类受体,主要作用是介导信号跨膜转导,尤其对革兰氏阴性菌所引起的感染性炎症起着极为关键的作用.由于近年来对TLR4介导的信号转导及TLR4与疾病的关系研究成为热点,本文就TLR4的信号转导、TLR4与LPS的关系及TLR4信号通路调节进行综述如下.     

非Toll样受体家族在天然免疫中的作用

抗感染免疫指机体的免疫系统对抗病原体侵入的一种防御能力。机体的抗感染免疫包括非特异性免疫(又称天然免疫)及特异性免疫2个部分。哺乳动物的天然免疫系统在保持机体与非致病性微生物共生的同时,还具有清除病原微生物的功能,这一敏感的调控网络保证了机体基本状态的稳定。种系编码的非特异性受体的发现是免疫学发展的重要里程碑之一,其中Toll样受体(TLR)和Nod样受体的表达可见于多个生物门,TLR的发现奠定了“模式识别受体(pattern-recognitionreceptors,PRR)”与“病原相关分子模式(pathogen-associated molecular patterns,PAMP)…     

泛素化调控抗病毒天然免疫的研究进展

天然免疫是宿主防御病原微生物入侵的第一道防线,其活化主要通过天然免疫细胞上的模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptors, PRRs)识别病原微生物上相对保守的相关分子模式(pathogen-associated molecular patterns, PAMPs).病毒相关的核酸成分可以被机体Toll样受体(Toll-like receptors, TLRs)、维甲酸诱导基因Ⅰ受体(RIG-I-like receptors, RLRs)以及胞浆DNA受体(cytoplasmic DNA sensors)等识别,通过一系列复杂的细胞信号通路诱导Ⅰ型干扰素(typeⅠinterferon)及炎症因子的表达,从而激发机体抗病毒反应.泛素化修饰是细胞内广泛存在的蛋白质翻译后修饰方式,在宿主防御病原微生物感染的动态调控过程中发挥着重要的作用.已有大量文献报道,天然免疫抗病毒信号通路中的多个关键接头分子可发生泛素化修饰,进而调控机体抗病毒免疫应答反应.本文综述了泛素化修饰在抗病毒天然免疫中的作用及其调控机制.     

TLR9与先天性免疫反应

TLR9（Toll-likereceptor9）是一种微生物病原相关分子结构模式识别受体,TLR9能够识别CpG—ODN（胞嘧啶磷酸鸟甘-寡聚脱氧核苷酸）,使病原相关受体在先天性免疫细胞上表达,并激活下游炎性通路。研究表明,TLR9在先天性免疫反应中产生了重要作用,如脓毒血症、自身免疫性疾病、刀豆体球蛋白A介导肝炎性肝脏损伤、炎性泡沫细胞形成、缺血再灌注损伤等,并且与多种致病因子相关联,如肝x受体、甲酰多肽受体、线粒体DNA等。     

TLR9的生物学特性及其在心血管疾病中的研究进展

Toll样受体(toll-like receptors,TLRs)是一类保守的介导固有免疫的跨膜信号传递受体家族,是一种I型跨膜蛋白受体,是模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptor,PRR)中的一员,在识别和抵御各种病原微生物及其产物的过程中发挥重要作用。病原微生物呈现多种真核细胞不具备的特殊的保守结构,称为病原相关分子模式(pathogen associated molecular patterns,PAMPs),这种结构可被PRR所识别,并通过下游的接头蛋白引发转录因子的激活和炎症因子的产生。不同的TLR分子具有各自特异的PAMPs识别谱,其中Toll样受体9(TLR9)是识别细菌来源的非甲基化CpG DNA等PAMPs的受体。TLRs在固有免疫和适应性免疫中发挥着重要作用,并参与多种心血管疾病的发病过程。本文就TLR9的生物学特性及其在心血管疾病中的研究进展进行综述。     

趋化因子及其受体在连接天然免疫与获得性免疫中的作用

病原侵入组织引起天然免疫中巨噬细胞(Mφ)分泌趋化因子,趋化因子／趋化因子受体的表达与非成熟树突状细胞(DC)的迁移、成熟、归巢以及获得性免疫应答密切相关。整个过程涉及许多趋化因子和趋化因子受体的表达变化,正是这种表达变化的精细调节启动了免疫细胞的定向迁移、归巢和游走,搭起天然免疫和获得性免疫的桥梁。本文综述了趋化因子和趋化因子受体在连接天然免疫和获得性免疫应答中的重要作用。     

猪Toll样受体4基因SNPs功能分析

Toll样受体4(Toll-like receptor 4,TLR4)在机体的免疫反应中发挥重要作用,该基因突变会影响受体的信号转导能力和机体的疾病抗性/易感性。文章在前期工作的基础上,进一步分析c.611 T>A(p.Leu204His)、c.1027C>A(p.Gln343Lys)和c.1605 G>T(p.Leu535Phe)3个错义突变对猪TLR4功能的影响。利用RT-PCR方法克隆猪TLR4基因全长编码区并引入定点突变;利用真核表达、双荧光素酶报告系统和Western blotting方法在瞬时转染的PK-15细胞内研究3个单核苷酸多态(Single nucleotide polymorphisms,SNPs)对猪TLR4配体识别和信号转导能力的影响;同时,利用创造酶切位点PCR-RFLP方法分析对TLR4活性有显著影响的点突变在民猪、大白、长白和中国东北野猪4个群体中的分布。结果,成功获得了民猪TLR4基因的全长编码区和3个单碱基变异体,构建了不同等位基因的真核表达载体,在PK-15细胞内确定了c.1605 G>T变异导致TLR4向下游传递信号的能力显著降低(P<0.01),该SNP只存在于民猪和野猪中且频率较高。猪TLR4基因c.1605 G>T变异影响Toll样受体的信号传递,可能和机体的疾病抗性/易感性有关。     

Differential Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) mRNA Expression Patterns during Chicken Embryological Development

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), important components of innate immune response, play a pivotal role in early recognition of pathogen as well as in the initiation of robust and specific adaptive immune response. In the present study, the expression profile of chicken TLRs (TLR2A, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, TLR15, and TLR21) in various chicken embryonic tissues during embryo development was examined by real-time PCR assay. All the TLR mRNAs were expressed in whole embryonic tissue as early as 3rd embryonic day (ED). Four of the seven TLRs (TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR7) mRNA expressions were significantly (P < 0.01) higher at 12ED relative to expression at 3 ED, whereas TLR15 mRNA expression was significantly (P < 0.01) higher on 7ED and TLR5 and 21 were highly expressed on 18 ED. Among all the TLRs investigated TLR4 mRNA was the highest expressed and TLR15 mRNA expression was the lowest in all tissues during chicken embryo development. Tissue wise analysis of mRNA expression of TLRs showed that liver expressed significantly (P < 0.01) higher levels of most of the genes (TLR2, TLR4, and TLR21). However no significant difference was found in TLR15 mRNA expression among the tissues during development. Our results suggest the innate preparedness of chicken embryos and also a possible role for TLRs in the regulation of chicken embryo development that needs to be further evaluated.     

Expression analysis of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) toll-like receptors and molecular characterization of avian specific TLR15

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) constitute a multi-gene family, which plays a pivotal role in sensing invading pathogens by virtue of conserved microbial patterns. TLR repertoire of chicken and zebra finch has been well studied. However TLR family of other avian species is yet to be characterized. In the present study, we identified TLR repertoire of turkey, characterized avian specific receptor TLR15 in turkey and profiled the TLRs expressions in a range of tissues of turkey poults. All ten TLR genes orthologous to chicken TLR repertoire were found in turkey. Turkey TLR genes showed 81-93 % similarity at amino acid level to their chicken counter parts. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the orthologous relationship of turkey TLRs with chicken and zebra finch TLRs. Open reading frame of turkey TLR15 was 2,607 bp long encoding 868 amino acids similar to that of broiler chicken and showed 92.4, 91.1 and 69.5 % identity at amino acid levels with chicken, Japanese quail and zebra finch TLR15 sequences respectively. Overall TLR expression was highest for TLR4 and lowest for TLR21. TLR1A, 2A, 2B and 21 were significantly higher in liver than other tissues investigated (P < 0.01). TLR3 expression was significantly higher in bone marrow (BM) and spleen in comparison to other tissues studied (P < 0.01). Furthermore, no significant differences in the expression levels of TLR1B, 4, 5, 7 and 15 genes were detected among the tissues studied. Our findings contribute to the characterization of innate immune system of birds and show the innate preparedness of young turkey poults to a range of pathogens.     

Radiation hybrid mapping of all 10 characterized bovine Toll-like receptors

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are cell-surface signalling molecules that recognize a range of highly conserved pathogen molecules and instigate the appropriate immune response. Here, we report the mapping of all 10 characterized bovine TLR genes using a radiation hybrid panel. The genomic organization of the bovine TLRs is similar to that of humans and mice. TLR1, TLR6 and TLR10 map closely together on Bos taurus chromosome 6 (BTA6), while TLR7 and TLR8 map to the X chromosome. TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5 and TLR9 map to BTA17, BTA27, BTA8, BTA16 and BTA22 respectively. Our increased knowledge of the genomic organization of the bovine TLR genes may promote our understanding of their evolution and help in the identification of bovine genes underlying disease-resistance traits.     

Identification and sequence analysis of chicken Toll-like receptors

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the recognition of microbial components. Only chicken TLR2 and -4 have been reported in the literature. The objectives of this study were to identify new chicken TLRs and to evaluate evolutionary significance of these receptors. Searching chicken genomic databases and DNA sequencing revealed five new TLRs, TLR1 (type 1 and 2), -3, -5, and -7. No chicken orthologues of mammalian TLR8, -9, or -10 were found. As in mammals, all chicken TLRs (chTLRs) share identical protein secondary structure that consists of several leucine-rich domains, a transmembrane domain, and Toll/Interleukin-1 receptor domain(s). Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the identified chTLR genes are the orthologues of TLRs in mammals. Analyses of the number of synonymous substitutions per synonymous site and nonsynonymous substitutions per nonsynonymous site indicate that the nucleotide sequences coding for the leucine-rich repeats of chicken TLR1 type 1 and type 2 were significantly under positive Darwinian selection. In contrast, the sequences of other TLRs were under purifying selection. These results support the hypothesis that one of the major evolutionary strategies of the innate immune system is to recognize a few highly conserved microbial components with several conserved TLRs. The results also indicate that the sequence changes in the ligand-binding domains of TLR1 in chickens provide adaptive advantages during evolution.Nucleotide sequence data reported are available in GenBank database under the accession numbers AY633573–AY633577     

Knockout of Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4 Prevents Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice

We investigated whether the pathways linked to Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLRs) are involved in renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Wild type (WT) C57BL/6J, TLR2^-/- and TLR4^-/- mice were subjected to left kidney ischemia for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 5, 8, 12 and 15 days. Proton density magnetic resonance showed alterations in the injured kidney from WT mice, together with signs of parenchymal edema and higher levels of vimentin mRNA, accompanied by: (i) small, but significant, increase in serum urea after 24 h, (ii) 100% increase in serum creatinine at 24 h. A serum peak of inflammatory cytokines occurred after 5 days of reperfusion. Heart weight/body weight and heart weight/tibia length ratios increased after 12 and 15 days of reperfusion, respectively. Cardiac hypertrophy markers, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and α-actin, left ventricle mass, cardiac wall thickness and myocyte width increased after 15 days of reperfusion, together with longer QTc and action potential duration. Cardiac TLRs, MyD88, HSP60 and HSP70 mRNA levels also increased. After 15 days of reperfusion, absence of TLRs prevented cardiac hypertrophy, as reflected by similar values of left ventricular cardiac mass and heart weight/body weight ratio compared to the transgenic Sham. Renal tissular injury also ameliorated in both knockout mice, as revealed by the comparison of their vimentin mRNA levels with those found in the WT on the same day after I/R. The I/R TLR2^-/- group had TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1β levels similar to the non-I/R group, whereas the TLR4^-/- group conserved the p-NF-κB/NF- κB ratio contrasting with that found in TLR2^-/-. We conclude: (i) TLRs are involved in renal I/R-induced cardiac hypertrophy; (ii) absence of TLRs prevents I/R-induced cardiac hypertrophy, despite renal lesions seeming to evolve towards those of chronic disease; (iii) TLR2 and TLR4 selectively regulate the systemic inflammatory profile and NF- κB activation.     

Interleukin‐8 and CXCL10 expression in oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts via Toll‐like receptors

Oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts may be the first line of host defense against oral microorganisms. Here, the contention that oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts recognize microbial components via Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) and participate in development of oral inflammation was examined. It was found that immortalized oral keratinocytes (RT7), fibroblasts (GT1) and primary cells express mRNA of TLRs 1–10. Interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) production by RT7 cells was induced by treatment with TLRs 1–9 with the exception of TLR7 agonist, whereas GT1 cells were induced to produce IL‐8 by all TLR agonists tested except for TLR7 and TLR9. GT1 cells showed increased CXCL10 production following treatment with agonists for TLR1/2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR5, whereas only those for TLR3 and TLR5 increased CXCL10 production in RT7 cells. Moreover, TLR agonists differentially regulated tumor necrosis factor‐alpha‐induced IL‐8 and CXCL10 production by the tested cell types. These findings suggest that recognition of pathogenic microorganisms in oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts by TLRs may have important roles in orchestrating host immune responses via production of various chemokines.