Differential expression of pattern recognition receptors during the development of foetal sheep.
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a crucial role in the initiation of the adaptive immune response. Immunological competence of foetal lambs occurs progressively throughout gestation, and in order to understand the role played by PRRs in foetal immunological competence, we quantified transcript expression, in the skin and spleen, of the TLRs, key C-type lectins and CARD15 during the critical second trimester. These data show that lambs express the same spectrum of PRRs as the adult but that the level of expression for most is dependent on developmental age. Key findings include: TLR1 and TLR5 are expressed at high levels in the foetus but are low in the adult; in contrast, TLR4, CD14 and CARD15 increase with age. In addition, TLR9 and TLR10 are expressed by the spleen and not the skin, while CARD15 is low in the spleen and high in the skin.
Nalubamba
King S
KS
Centre of Infectious Diseases, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH, UK.
Gossner
Anton G
AG
Dalziel
Robert G
RG
Hopkins
John
J
D000818:Animals; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition