Involvement of toll-like receptor 4 in innate immunity to respiratory syncytial virus

J Virol. 2001 Nov;75(22):10730-7. doi: 10.1128/JVI.75.22.10730-10737.2001.

Abstract

The mammalian Toll-like receptor 4, TLR4, is an important component in the innate immune response to gram-negative bacterial infection. The role of TLR4 in antiviral immunity has been largely unexplored. In this study, the in vivo immune responses to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus infection were examined in TLR4-deficient (C57BL/10ScNCr) and TLR4-expressing (C57BL/10Sn) mice. TLR4-deficient mice challenged with RSV, but not influenza virus, exhibited impaired natural killer (NK) cell and CD14(+) cell pulmonary trafficking, deficient NK cell function, impaired interleukin-12 expression, and impaired virus clearance compared to mice expressing TLR4. These findings suggest that Toll signaling pathways have an important role in innate immunity to RSV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Female
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Interleukin-12 / physiology
  • Interleukin-18 / physiology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / analysis
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Toll-Like Receptors

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Interleukin-18
  • Lipopolysaccharide Receptors
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Interleukin-12