Toll-like receptor signaling is functional in immune cells of the endangered Tasmanian devil

Amanda L Patchett; Roger Latham; Kate H Brettingham-Moore; Cesar Tovar; A Bruce Lyons; Gregory M Woods

doi:10.1016/j.dci.2015.07.003

Toll-like receptor signaling is functional in immune cells of the endangered Tasmanian devil

Dev Comp Immunol. 2015 Nov;53(1):123-33. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.07.003. Epub 2015 Jul 13.

Authors

Amanda L Patchett¹, Roger Latham², Kate H Brettingham-Moore², Cesar Tovar¹, A Bruce Lyons², Gregory M Woods³

Affiliations

¹ Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
² School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
³ Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia. Electronic address: G.M.Woods@utas.edu.au.

PMID: 26182986
DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.07.003

Abstract

Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is a fatally transmissible cancer that threatens the Tasmanian devil population. As Tasmanian devils do not produce an immune response against DFTD cells, an effective vaccine will require a strong adjuvant. Activation of innate immune system cells through toll-like receptors (TLRs) could provide this stimulation. It is unknown whether marsupials, including Tasmanian devils, express functional TLRs. We isolated RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and, with PCR, detected transcripts for TLRs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13. Stimulation of the mononuclear cells with agonists to these TLRs increased the expression of downstream TLR signaling products (IL1α, IL6, IL12A and IFNβ). Our data provide the first evidence that TLR signaling is functional in the mononuclear cells of the Tasmanian devil. Future DFTD vaccination trials will incorporate TLR agonists to enhance the immune response against DFTD.

Keywords: Adjuvant; Devil facial tumour disease; Innate immunity; Marsupial; Tasmanian devil; Toll-like receptor.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Facial Neoplasms / immunology*
Facial Neoplasms / prevention & control
Immunity, Innate / immunology*
Interferon-beta / biosynthesis
Interferon-beta / immunology
Interleukin-12 Subunit p35 / biosynthesis
Interleukin-12 Subunit p35 / immunology
Interleukin-1alpha / biosynthesis
Interleukin-1alpha / immunology
Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
Interleukin-6 / immunology
Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology*
Marsupialia / immunology*
Signal Transduction / immunology
Toll-Like Receptors / agonists
Toll-Like Receptors / immunology*

Substances

Interleukin-12 Subunit p35
Interleukin-1alpha
Interleukin-6
Toll-Like Receptors
Interferon-beta