title: Toll-like receptors in the brain of mice following infection with Acanthamoeba spp.
abstract: The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) of the innate immune system play an important role in the recognition of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. In this study, we examined the changes in the level of expression of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA and protein in the brains of mice infected with Acanthamoeba spp. The Acanthamoeba strains were isolated from a patient with Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) (Ac55) and Malta Lake (Ac43). In the brain isolated from mice at 2 days post-infection (dpi) with Acanthamoeba strains Ac55 and Ac43, mRNAs for TLR2 and TLR4 were significantly more strongly expressed in comparison with the uninfected mice. In Acanthamoeba-infected mice, TLR2 and TLR4 expression was detected in neurons, glial cells, and endothelial cells within the neocortex. These receptors showed more intense expression in ependymocytes of the choroid plexus of infected mice at 2 dpi. Increased levels of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression in infected mice suggest the involvement of these TLRs in the recognition of Acanthamoeba spp. pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs).
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 10 Fredry Street, 61-701, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Wojtkowiak-Giera
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 10 Fredry Street, 61-701, Poznan, Poland. mderda@ump.edu.pl.
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Derda
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Pomeranian Medical University, 71 Powstancow Wielkopolskich Street, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Kolasa-Wołosiuk
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 10 Fredry Street, 61-701, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Hadaś
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University, 72 Powstancow Wielkopolskich Street, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Danuta
authors: D
authors: Kosik-Bogacka
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 10 Fredry Street, 61-701, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Solarczyk
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego Street, 60-781, Poznań, Poland.
authors: Paweł P
authors: PP
authors: Jagodziński
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 10 Fredry Street, 61-701, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Elżbieta
authors: E
authors: Wandurska-Nowak
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000469:parasitology; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D063928:Ependymoglial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493486:Tlr2 protein, mouse; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4
keywords: Acanthamoeba spp.; Brain; Immunohistochemistry; Mouse; Q-PCR; TLR2; TLR4; Toll-like receptors