title: In vivo expression of Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 by renal epithelial cells: IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha mediated up-regulation during inflammation.
abstract: The reported requirement of functional Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 for resistance to Gram-negative pyelonephritis prompted us to localize the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA in the kidney at the cellular level by in situ hybridization. The majority of the constitutive TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression was found to be strategically located in the renal epithelial cells. Assuming that the TLR mRNA expression is representative of apical protein expression, this suggests that these cells are able to detect and react with bacteria present in the lumen of the tubules. To gain insight in the regulation of TLR expression during inflammation, we used a model for renal inflammation. Renal inflammation evoked by ischemia markedly enhanced synthesis of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA in the distal tubular epithelium, the thin limb of Henle's loop, and collecting ducts. The increased renal TLR4 mRNA expression was associated with significant elevation of renal TLR4 protein expression as evaluated by Western blotting. Using RT-PCR, the enhanced TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression was shown to be completely dependent on the action of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. These results indicate a potential mechanism of increased immunosurveillance during inflammation at the site in which ascending bacteria enter the kidney tissue, i.e., the collecting ducts and the distal part of the nephron.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Department of General Surgery, University of Maastricht, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tim G A M
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Wolfs
authors.forename: Wim A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Buurman
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Schadewijk
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Marc A R C
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Daemen
authors.forename: Pieter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Hiemstra
authors.forename: Cornelis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van 't Veer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma