Gene Transcriptions of Toll-Like Receptors in the Mouse Uterus during Gestation

Abstract

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play critical roles in innate immunity by recognizing a broad range of microbial components as ligands. The activation of TLRs is an important step not only for the innate immune response, but also for the development of the subsequent antigen-specific adaptive immune response. However, little is known about TLR expression in the female genital mucosa during gestation. In the present study, gene transcriptions of TLRs 1 to 9 were investigated in both the mesometrial side and the anti-mesometrial side of the uterus during gestation in the mouse reproductive organ during the gestation period. In the mesometrial side, gene transcriptions of TLR 1, 3, 4 and 9 were decreased in the late gestation period, whereas an increase of gene transcriptions of TLR 4 and 9 was seen in the early gestation period. In the anti-mesometrial side, gene transcriptions of TLR 1 and 9 were also decreased in the late gestation period, and TLR 9 gene transcription was increased in the early gestation period. On the other hand, gene transcriptions of TLR 3 and 4 were not changed in the late gestation period, but they were increased in the early gestation period. Gene transcriptions of TLR 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were not changed statistically in either side during the gestation period. These results suggest that the expressions of particular TLRs may be regulated in the uterus during the gestation period to maintain the pregnant state.