title: Toll-like receptors at the maternal-fetal interface in normal pregnancy and pregnancy complications.
abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) form the major family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that are involved in innate immunity. Innate immune responses against microorganisms at the maternal-fetal interface may have a significant impact on the success of pregnancy, as intrauterine infections have been shown to be strongly associated with certain complications of pregnancy. At the maternal-fetal interface, TLRs are expressed not only in the immune cells but also in non-immune cells such as trophoblasts and decidual cells; moreover, their expression patterns vary according to the stage of pregnancy. Here, we will update potential functions of TLRs in these cells, their recognition and response to microorganisms, and their involvement in the innate immunity. The impact of TLR-mediated innate immune response will be discussed via animal model studies, as well as clinical observations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Gentaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mor
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osuga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
keywords: Decidua; fetus; inflammation; preeclampsia; preterm labor; trophoblast