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1 October 2008 Toll-Like Receptor 3 Activation Induces Antiviral Immune Responses in Mouse Sertoli Cells
Donatella Starace, Roberta Galli, Alessio Paone, Paola De Cesaris, Antonio Filippini, Elio Ziparo, Anna Riccioli
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Abstract

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and elicit antimicrobial immune responses. In the testis, viruses can induce pathological conditions, such as orchitis, and may participate in the etiology of testicular cancer; however, the molecular mechanisms involved remain under investigation. It has been suggested that because they constitutively express interferon (IFN)-inducible antiviral proteins, Sertoli cells participate in the testicular antiviral defense system. Previously, we demonstrated a key function of mouse Sertoli cells in the bactericidal testicular defense mechanism mediated by a panel of TLRs. To better characterize the potential role of Sertoli cells in the response against testicular viral infections, we investigated the TLR3 expression and function in these cells. Sertoli cells express TLR3, and under stimulation with the synthetic double-stranded RNA analogue poly (I:C), they produce the proinflammatory molecule ICAM1 and secrete functionally active CCL2 chemokine. Using both pharmacological and genetic approaches, we found that these effects are TLR3-dependent. Moreover, using ELISA, we found that IFNA is constitutively produced and not further inducible, whereas IFNB1 is absent and dramatically induced only by transfected poly (I:C), indicating different control mechanisms underlying IFNA and IFNB1 production. To conclude, poly (I:C) elicits both inflammatory and antiviral responses in Sertoli cells.

Donatella Starace, Roberta Galli, Alessio Paone, Paola De Cesaris, Antonio Filippini, Elio Ziparo, and Anna Riccioli "Toll-Like Receptor 3 Activation Induces Antiviral Immune Responses in Mouse Sertoli Cells," Biology of Reproduction 79(4), 766-775, (1 October 2008). https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.108.068619
Received: 22 February 2008; Accepted: 1 June 2008; Published: 1 October 2008
KEYWORDS
cell surface molecules
chemokines
cytokines
immunology
Mouse
Sertoli cells
signal transduction
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