NCBI Summary:
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family which plays a fundamental role in pathogen recognition and activation of innate immunity. TLRs are highly conserved from Drosophila to humans and share structural and functional similarities. They recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are expressed on infectious agents, and mediate the production of cytokines necessary for the development of effective immunity. The various TLRs exhibit different patterns of expression. This gene is preferentially expressed in immune cell rich tissues, such as spleen, lymph node, bone marrow and peripheral blood leukocytes. Studies in mice and human indicate that this receptor mediates cellular response to unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in bacterial DNA to mount an innate immune response.
General function
Receptor
Comment
Cellular localization
Plasma membrane
Comment
Ovarian function
Cumulus expansion
Comment
Expression regulated by
LH
Comment
Ovarian localization
Cumulus
Comment
Induced expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs): Novel evidence for innate immune-like functions during ovulation. Shimada M et al. Ovulation is the complex, inflammatory-like process by which the cumulus oocyte complex (COC) is released from a mature, preovulatory (PO) follicle through a rupture site at the ovarian surface and requires expression of genes that generate and stabilize the expanded extracellular COC matrix. Gene profiling analyses of COCs at selected time intervals during ovulation revealed that many genes associated with immune related surveillance functions were also induced in cumulus cells. Specifically, cell surface signaling molecules known as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that act as sensors of the external environment important for the innate immune system to detect 'self' from 'non-self' or 'altered self' are induced and/or expressed in cumulus cells as well as granulosa cells. These include the complement factor C1q, CD14 and the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 4, 8 and 9 as well as mediators of TLR activation, MYD88 and IRF3. COCs exposed to bacterial LPS exhibit enhanced phosphorylation of p38MAPK, ERK1/2 and NF-kB and increased expression of Il6 and Tnfa target genes, documenting that the TLR pathway is functional. Cumulus cells and granulosa cells also express the scavenger receptors CD36 and SCARBI and exhibited phagocytic uptake of fluorescently-tagged bacterial particles. Collectively, these results provide novel evidence that cumulus cells as well as granulosa cells express innate immune related genes that may play critical roles in surveillance and cell survival during the ovulation process.