• 한국가금학회지
• /
• 제45권3호
• /
• pp.209-217
• /
• 2018

The innate immune recognition is based on the detection of microbial products. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) located on the cell surface and the endosome senses microbial components and nucleic acids, respectively. Chicken TLRs mediate immune responses by sensing ligands from pathogens, have been studied as immune adjuvants to increase the efficacy of vaccines. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TLR3 and TLR4 genes in chicken were associated with resistance and susceptibility to viral infection. In this study, SNPs of chTLR3 and chTLR4 genes were retrieved from public database and annotated with chicken reference genome. Three-dimensional models of the chTLR3 and chTLR4 proteins were built using a Swiss modeler. We identified 35 and 13 nsSNPs in chTLR3 and chTLR4 genes respectively. Sorting Intolerant from Tolerant (SIFT) and Polymorphism Phenotyping v2 (Polyphen-2) analyses, suggested that, out of 35 and 13 nsSNPs, 4 and 2 SNPs were identified to be deleterious in chTLR3 and chTLR4 gene respectively. In chTLR3, 1 deleterious SNP was located in ectodomain and 3 were located in the Toll / IL-1 receptor (TIR) domain. Further structural model of chTLR3-TIR domain suggested that 1 deleterious SNP be present in the B-B loop region, which is important for TIR-TIR domain interactions in the downstream signaling. In chTLR4, the deleterious SNPs were located both in the ectodomain and TIR domain. SNPs predicted for chTLR3 and chTLR4 in this study, might be related to resistance or susceptible to viral infection in chickens. Results from this study will be useful to develop the effective measures in chicken against infectious diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제13권5호
• /
• pp.194-198
• /
• 2013

Recent papers have shown that the initial event in the pathogenesis of autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) comprises sensing of molecular patterns released from apoptotic ${\beta}$-cells by innate immune receptors such as toll-like receptor (TLR). We have reported that apoptotic ${\beta}$-cells undergoing secondary necrosis called 'late apoptotic' ${\beta}$-cells stimulate dendritic cells (DCs) and induce diabetogenic T cell priming through TLR2. The role of other innate immune receptors such as TLR7 or TLR9 in the initiation of T1D has also been suggested. We hypothesized that TLR2 blockade could inhibit T1D at the initial step of T1D. Indeed, when a TLR2 agonist, $Pam3CSK_4$ was administered chronically, the development of T1D in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice was inhibited. Diabetogenic T cell priming by DCs was attenuated by chronic treatment with $Pam3CSK_4$, indicating DC tolerance. For the treatment of established T1D, immune tolerance alone is not enough because ${\beta}$-cell mass is critically reduced. We employed TLR2 tolerance in conjunction with islet transplantation, which led to reversal of newly established T1D. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors are a new class of anti-diabetic agents that have beneficial effects on ${\beta}$-cells. We investigated whether a combination of DPP4 inhibition and TLR2 tolerization could reverse newly established T1D without islet transplantation. We could achieve normoglycemia by TLR2 tolerization in combination with DPP4 inhibition but not by TLR2 tolerization or DPP4 inhibition alone. ${\beta}$-cell mass was significantly increased by combined treatment with TLR2 tolerization and DPP4 inhibition. These results suggest the possibility that a novel strategy of TLR tolerization will be available for the inhibition or treatment of established T1D when combined with measures increasing critically reduced ${\beta}$-cell mass of T1D patients such as DPP4 inhibition or stem cell technology.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2019

암조직의 내부에서 hypoxia와 glucose depletion 등의 microenvironmental stress를 받게 되면 necrosis가 유도되고, 실제로 암 조직 내부에서 necrotic core 형성이 관찰된다. Necrotic cells은 high mobility group box 1(HMGB1)를 extracellular space로 방출하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 방출된 HMGB1은 tumor-promoting cytokine으로 작용함으로써 tumor development 시 inflammation, metabolism 및 metastasis에 기여한다. 본 연구에서 non-invasive breast cancer cells MCF-7이 solid tumor의 in vitro model인 multicellular tumor spheroid (MTS) 배양을 통해 완전한 구형의 MTS를 형성하며 MTS가 성장함에 따라 inner region에 necrosis가 유도됨을 밝혔다. 또한 MCF-7 세포의 MTS 배양은 Snail 의존적으로 epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)를 유도함을 관찰하였다. HMGB1의 cell surface receptors인 RAGE, TLR2, TLR4 발현이 MTS 배양에 의해 증가됨을 발견하였다. RAGE, TLR2, TLR4 를 knockdown한 결과 MTS 성장을 억제할 뿐만 아니라 MTS에 의해 증가되는 Snail 발현을 억제함을 밝혔다. 이는 MTS-induced Snail 발현이 RAGE/TLR2/TLR4의존적으로 조절되며 RAGE/TLR2/TLR4-Snail이 MTS 성장에 관여하는 것으로 보인다. 또한 Snail, RAGE, TLR2, TLR4 shRNA는 MTS 배양에 의해 유도되는 EMT를 억제함을 밝혔다. 실제 인간 암조직에서 정상조직에 비해 RAGE, TLR2, TLR4 유전자의 발현이 높음을 관찰하였다. 따라서 HMGB1이 RAGE/TLR2/4-Snail axis를 통해 MTS 배양에 따른 성장 및 EMT에 중요하게 작용할 것으로 예상된다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
• /
• 제49권4호
• /
• pp.345-349
• /
• 2017

당뇨병은 대사 증후군 및 심혈관 질환을 비롯한 다양한 건강상의 부작용과 관련이 있다. 또한 당뇨병의 증가로 사회 및 의학적 관심이 증가하고 있다. 제 2 형 당뇨병의 특징 중 하나는 혈당이 증가한다는 것이다. 공복 혈당치는 가장 기본적이고 널리 사용되는 당뇨병의 지표이다. TLR4 발현은 심장에서 비교적 높다. 그러나 공복 시 혈당과 TLR4의 관련성에 대한 연구가 있었다. 한국인에서 TLR4 유전자와 공복 시 혈당의 단일 염기 다형성(SNP)의 관련성을 알아 보았다. 서울시에서 총 994 명을 대상으로 TLR4 SNP를 이용한 연구를 실시했다. 공복 시 혈당과 관련하여 TLR4 유전자 영역은 연쇄 불균형으로 나타 났으며 유전자의 범위가 매우 크기 때문에 여러 개의 LD 블록으로 보였다. TLR4 유전자의 SNP는 평균 공복 시 혈당과 관련이 있었다(p<0.01). 공복 시 혈당과 관련 크기는 p-value를 $-log^{10}$의 값으로 하였다. rs1329067의 minor allele frequency는 16.4%였고 AA 유전자형을 가진 사람들은 GG 유전자형을 가진 사람들 보다 공복 시 혈당이 높았다. 이 연구는 TLR4의 유전 적 변이가 한국 성인의 혈당 수치에 영향을 미친다는 것을 암시한다.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• 제46권4호
• /
• pp.190-199
• /
• 2021

Despite evidence that bacteria-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are activated in salivary gland tissues of Sjogren syndrome (SS) patients, the role of oral bacteria in SS etiopathogenesis is unclear. We previously reported that two SS-associated oral bacteria, Prevotella melaninogenica (Pm) and Rothia mucilagenosa (Rm), oppositely regulate the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) in human salivary gland (HSG) cells. Here, we elucidated the mechanisms underlying the differential regulation of MHC I expression by these bacteria. The ability of Pm and Rm to activate TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 was examined using TLR reporter cells. HSG cells were stimulated by the TLR ligands, Pm, and Rm. The levels of MHC I expression, bacterial invasion, and viability of HSG cells were examined by flow cytometry. The hypoxic status of HSG cells was examined using Hypoxia Green. HSG cells upregulated MHC I expression in response to TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 activation. Both Pm and Rm activated TLR2 and TLR9 but not TLR4. Rm-induced downregulation of MHC I strongly correlated with bacterial invasion and cell death. Rm-induced cell death was not rescued by inhibitors of the diverse cell death pathways but was associated with hypoxia. In conclusion, Pm upregulated MHC I likely through TLR2 and TLR9 activation, while Rm-induced hypoxia-associated cell death and the downregulation of MHC I, despite its ability to activate TLR2 and TLR9. These findings may provide new insight into how oral dysbiosis can contribute to salivary gland tissue damage in SS.

• 한국식품과학회지
• /
• 제39권2호
• /
• pp.175-180
• /
• 2007

TLRs는 병원균이 숙주의 몸 속에 들어 왔을 때, 병원균들이 가지고 있는 독특한 구조를 인식하여 선천성 면역반응과 뒤이어 후천성 면역반응을 유도하는 중요한 역할을 한다. 우리는 이번 실험을 통하여 curcumin이 선행연구에서 밝혀낸 TLR4 뿐만 아니라 TLR2와 TLR6 그리고 TLR3를 또한 분자학적인 타깃으로 할 수 있다는 것을 알아내었다. Curcumin이 MALP-2(TLR2,6 agonist)에 의해서 유도된 IRAK-1 degradation을 억제시켰다. 이러한 결과는 curcumin의 분자학적인 타깃이 IRAK-1위에 놓여 있으며, TLR2와 TLR6가 될 것이라는 가능성을 제시해 준다고 할 수 있다. 또한 curcumin은 viral 자극제인 poly[I:C](TLR3 agonist)에 의해서 유도된 IRF3나 $NF-{\kappa}B$ 활성화를 억제하였지만, TRIF에 의해서 유도된 IRF3 활성화는 억제시키지를 못하였다. 이러한 결과 또한 TLR3 자체가 curcumin의 분자학적인 타깃이라는 가능성을 제시해 준다고 할 수 있겠다. 이러한 결과를 종합해 볼때, curcumin의 분자학적인 타깃이 $IKK{\beta}$ 이외에 모든 TLRs가 될 수 있다는 가능성을 제시해 준다고 할 수 있겠다. 이러한 결과는 curcumin이 그람음성균 뿐만이 아니라 바이러스나 박테리아 등 여러 병원균들로부터 유도되는 염증반응이나 만성적인 질병들을 조절할 수 있다는 것을 보여주는 결과라 할 수 있겠다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제27권8호
• /
• pp.1529-1538
• /
• 2017

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic and clinically significant emerging pathogen. We investigated the relative roles of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 in initiating host defenses against K. pneumoniae. TLR2 knockout (KO), TLR4 KO, TLR2/4 double KO (DKO), and wild-type (WT) mice were inoculated with K. pneumoniae. Mice in each group were sacrificed after either 12 or 24h, and the lungs, liver, and blood were harvested to enumerate bacterial colony-forming units (CFU). Cytokine and chemokine levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time PCR, and pneumonia severity was determined by histopathological analysis. Survival was significantly shortened in TLR4 KO and TLR2/4 DKO mice compared with that of WT mice after infection with $5{\times}10^3CFU$. TLR2 KO mice were more susceptible to infection than WT mice after exposure to a higher infectious dose. Bacterial burdens in the lungs and liver were significantly higher in TLR2/4 DKO mice than in WT mice. Serum $TNF-{\alpha}$, MCP-1, MIP-2, and nitric oxide levels were significantly decreased in TLR2/4 DKO mice relative to those in WT mice, and TLR2/4 DKO mice showed significantly decreased levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, MCP-1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA in the lung compared with those in WT mice. Collectively, these data indicate that TLR2/4 DKO mice were more susceptible to K. pneumoniae infection than single TLR2 KO and TLR4 KO mice. These results suggest that TLR2 and TLR4 play cooperative roles in lung innate immune responses and bacterial dissemination, resulting in systemic inflammation during K. pneumoniae infection.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.27.1-27.16
• /
• 2022

Background: The role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in a feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) infection is not completely understood. Objectives: This study examined the expression of TLR3, TLR7, TLR9, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon (IFN)-β, and interleukin (IL)-10 upon an FIPV infection in Crandell-Reese feline kidney (CRFK) cells and feline monocytes. Methods: CRFK cells and monocytes from feline coronavirus (FCoV)-seronegative cats and FCoV-seropositive cats were infected with type II FIPV-79-1146. At four, 12, and 24 hours post-infection (hpi), the expression of TLR3, TLR7, TLR9, TNF-α, IFN-β, and IL-10, and the viral load were measured using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Viral protein production was confirmed using immunofluorescence. Results: FIPV-infected CRFK showed the upregulation of TLR9, TNF-α, and IFN-β expression between 4 and 24 hpi. Uninfected monocytes from FCoV-seropositive cats showed lower TLR3 and TLR9 expression but higher TLR7 expression compared to uninfected monocytes from FCoV-seronegative cats. FIPV-infected monocytes from FCoV-seropositive cats downregulated TLR7 and TNF-α expression between 4 and 24 hpi, and 4 and 12 hpi, respectively. IFN-β was upregulated early in FIPV-infected monocytes from FCoV-seropositive cats, with a significant difference observed at 12 hpi compared to FCoV-seronegative cats. The viral load in the CRFK and FIPV-infected monocytes in both cohorts of cats was similar over time.ConclusionTLR7 may be the key TLR involved in evading the innate response against inhibiting TNF-α production. Distinct TLR expression profiles between FCoV-seronegative and FCoV-seropositive cats were observed. The associated TLR that plays a role in the induction of IFN-β needs to be explored further.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제50권2호
• /
• pp.55-57
• /
• 2017

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) together with MD2, one of the key pattern recognition receptors for a pathogen-associated molecular pattern, activates innate immunity by recognizing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria. Although LBP and CD14 catalyze LPS transfer to the TLR4/MD2 complex, the detail mechanisms underlying this dynamic LPS transfer remain elusive. Using negative-stain electron microscopy, we visualized the dynamic intermediate complexes during LPS transfer-LBP/LPS micelles and ternary CD14/LBP/LPS micelle complexes. We also reconstituted the entire cascade of LPS transfer to TLR4/MD2 in a total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscope for a single molecule fluorescence analysis. These analyses reveal longitudinal LBP binding to the surface of LPS micelles and multi-round binding/unbinding of CD14 to single LBP/LPS micelles via key charged residues on LBP and CD14. Finally, we reveal that a single LPS molecule bound to CD14 is transferred to TLR4/MD2 in a TLR4-dependent manner. These discoveries, which clarify the molecular mechanism of dynamic LPS transfer to TLR4/MD2 via LBP and CD14, provide novel insights into the initiation of innate immune responses.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제26권7호
• /
• pp.1333-1340
• /
• 2016

The main objective of this study was to investigate whether Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) ameliorated the effects of Citrobactor rodentium infection in Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) knockout (KO) and TLR4 KO mice, as well as in wild-type C57BL/6 (B6) mice. TLR2 KO, TLR4 KO, and B6 mice were divided into three groups per each strain. Each group had an uninfected control group (n = 5), C. rodentium-infected group (n = 8), and LGG-pretreated C. rodentium-infected group (n = 8). The survival rate of B6 mice infected with C. rodentium was higher when pretreated with LGG. Pretreatment with LGG ameliorated C. rodentium-induced mucosal hyperplasia in B6 and TLR4 KO mice. However, in C-rodentium-infected TLR2 KO mice, mucosal hyperplasia persisted, regardless of pretreatment with LGG. In addition, LGG-pretreated B6 and TLR4 KO mice showed a decrease in spleen weight and downregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 mRNA expression compared with the non-pretreated group. In contrast, such changes were not observed in TLR2 KO mice, regardless of pretreatment with LGG. From the above results, we conclude that pretreatment with LGG ameliorates C. rodentium-induced colitis in B6 and TLR4 KO mice, but not in TLR2 KO mice. Therefore, LGG protects mice from C. rodentium-induced colitis in a TLR2-dependent manner.