rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90:378-382 doi:10.1136/bjo.2005.082289
  • Laboratory science - Extended reports

Expression of CRAMP via PGN-TLR-2 and of α-defensin-3 via CpG-ODN-TLR-9 in corneal fibroblasts

  1. S Rodriguez-Martinez1,
  2. M E Cancino-Diaz2,
  3. J C Cancino-Diaz1
  1. 1Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de Ayala y Prolongación de Carpio, Col Santo Tomas, 11340 Mexico, DF, Mexico
  2. 2Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de Ayala y Prolongación de Carpio, Col Santo Tomas, 11340 Mexico, DF, Mexico
  1. Correspondence to: Dr Juan Carlos Cancino-Diaz Departamento de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Microbiología General, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n México, DF, 11340, México; jccancinodiaz{at}hotmail.com
  • Accepted 2 November 2005

Abstract

Aims: To search for the induction of the expression of antimicrobial peptides in corneal fibroblasts treated with bacterial components.

Methods: RT-PCR was performed to search for mRNAs expression of antimicrobial peptides and toll-like receptors (TLRs) in murine primary cultures of corneal fibroblast (PCCF) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli, peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus, and cytosine-phosphorous-guanine oligonucleotide (CpG-ODN). Cellular activation was blocked with anti-TRL antibodies.

Results: LPS did not induce expression of antimicrobial peptide in corneal fibroblasts. Cathelin related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) and α-defensin 3 were overexpressed in a time and dose dependent manner in corneal fibroblasts treated with peptidoglycan and with CpG-ODN, respectively. CRAMP expression was blocked when PCCF were treated with anti-TLR-2 antibodies. α-Defensin 3 was not expressed in NIH murine corneal fibroblasts (which do not express the TLR-9 molecule) treated with CpG-ODN.

Conclusion: Results suggest that corneal fibroblasts, which are the second cellular barrier of the cornea, can play an important part in the innate immunity of the eye via TLR stimulation.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.