A toll-like receptor that prevents infection by uropathogenic bacteria

Science. 2004 Mar 5;303(5663):1522-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1094351.

Abstract

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize molecular patterns displayed by microorganisms, and their subsequent activation leads to the transcription of appropriate host-defense genes. Here we report the cloning and characterization of a member of the mammalian TLR family, TLR11, that displays a distinct pattern of expression in macrophages and liver, kidney, and bladder epithelial cells. Cells expressing TLR11 fail to respond to known TLR ligands but instead respond specifically to uropathogenic bacteria. Mice lacking TLR11 are highly susceptible to infection of the kidneys by uropathogenic bacteria, indicating a potentially important role for TLR11 in preventing infection of internal organs of the urogenital system.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Codon, Terminator
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli / immunology
  • Escherichia coli / pathogenicity*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / immunology*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Kidney / immunology
  • Kidney / metabolism*
  • Kidney / microbiology
  • Ligands
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / chemistry
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Urinary Bladder / immunology
  • Urinary Bladder / metabolism*
  • Urinary Bladder / microbiology
  • Urinary Tract Infections / immunology*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / microbiology

Substances

  • Codon, Terminator
  • Ligands
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • TLR11 protein, human
  • Tlr11 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha