Age-dependent TLR3 expression of the intestinal epithelium contributes to rotavirus susceptibility.

ABSTRACT: Rotavirus is a major cause of diarrhea worldwide and exhibits a pronounced small intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) tropism. Both human infants and neonatal mice are highly susceptible, whereas adult individuals remain asymptomatic and shed only low numbers of viral particles. Here we investigated age-dependent mechanisms of the intestinal epithelial innate immune response to rotavirus infection in an oral mouse infection model. Expression of the innate immune receptor for viral dsRNA, Toll-like receptor (Tlr) 3 was low in the epithelium of suckling mice but strongly increased during the postnatal period inversely correlating with rotavirus susceptibility, viral shedding and histological damage. Adult mice deficient in Tlr3 (Tlr3(-/-)) or the adaptor molecule Trif (Trif(Lps2/Lps2)) exerted s

SUBMITTER: Pott J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3343008 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature