TLR4-MyD88/Mal-NF-kB axis is involved in infection of HSV-2 in human cervical epithelial cells

PLoS One. 2013 Nov 20;8(11):e80327. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080327. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

We have established an in vitro HSV-2 acute infection model with Human cervical epithelial (HCE cells, the primary target and natural host cells for HSV-2) to investigate the role of TLRs-mediated innate immune response to HSV-2. In current study, we found that HSV-2 infection induced activity of NF-kB reporter and expression of cytokines are TLR4-dependent using approaches with shRNA and TLR4 antagonist. Knockdown experiments demonstrated that the adaptor molecules MyD88 and Mal of the TLRs signaling pathway are required in the HSV-2 induced TLR4-dependent NF-kB activation in HCE cells. Western blot assay suggested that knockdown of TLR4 decreased the phosphorylation of IRAK1 and inhibitor of NF-kB (IkB-α) upon HSV-2 infection. Finally, decreased expression of either TLR4 or MyD88/Mal alone or both significantly abolished productions of IL-6 and IFN-β by ELISA analysis. Taken together, our results from the in vitro infection model reveal for the first time that there exists the pathway via TLR4-Mal/MyD88-IRAK1-NF-kB axis in human cervical epithelial cells in response to HSV-2 infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cervix Uteri / cytology
  • Cervix Uteri / virology*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / virology
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 2, Human / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins / metabolism*
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • MAL protein, human
  • Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • NF-kappa B
  • TLR4 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (30810103052, 81072419). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.