Alteration of TLR3 pathways by glucocorticoids may be responsible for immunosusceptibility of human corneal epithelial cells to viral infections.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) recognizes viral double-stranded RNA and its synthetic analog polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), and the activation of TLR3 is known to induce the production of type I interferon (IFN) and inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. The purpose of this study was to determine the role played by innate responses to a herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection of the corneal epithelial cells. In addition, we determined the effects of immunosuppressive drugs on the innate responses.

Methods

Cultured human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were exposed to poly(I:C), and the expressions of the mRNAs of the cytokines/chemokines macrophage-inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP1-alpha), macrophage-inflammatory protein 1 beta (MIP1-beta), inte

SUBMITTER: Hara Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2683030 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature