Expression of toll-like receptors 2, 3, 4, and 9 genes in the human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.
Innate immunity in the endometrium has fundamental significance for reproduction. Although toll-like receptors (TLRs) play central roles in innate immune responses, their expression in the human endometrium remains to be fully elucidated. We have examined the gene expression of TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR9 in endometrial tissues by real-time quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization. The expression levels of the four genes in endometrial tissues varied in a similar pattern during the menstrual cycle; the levels were high in the perimenstrual period and low in the periovulatory period. Expression of the four genes was detected in both epithelial cells and stromal cells throughout the menstrual cycle. Expression levels were higher in epithelial cells for TLR3 and in stromal cells for TLR4, while they were comparable in epithelial cells and stromal cells for TLR2 and TLR9. These findings imply that differential spatio-temporal expression patterns of TLRs subserve proper innate immunity of the endometrium.
Hirata
Tetsuya
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
Osuga
Yutaka
Y
Hamasaki
Kahori
K
Hirota
Yasushi
Y
Nose
Emi
E
Morimoto
Chieko
C
Harada
Miyuki
M
Takemura
Yuri
Y
Koga
Kaori
K
Yoshino
Osamu
O
Tajima
Toshiki
T
Hasegawa
Akiko
A
Yano
Tetsu
T
Taketani
Yuji
Y
D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol