Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the expression profiles of the cathelicidins (
CATH
s) in the oviduct and the effects of Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands of virus-associated molecular patterns on
CATH
s expression in the vagina of hens. The mRNA expression of cathelicidins (
CATH1, -2, -3
and
-B1
) in the oviductal mucosa was analyzed by RT-PCR. The effects of viral moleculs on the
CATH
s expression in the vagina was examined by incubating the mucosal tissue with virus molecular patterns, including poly I:C (dsRNA virus, TLR3 ligand), R848 (ssRNA virus, TLR7 ligand) and CpG-ODN (DNA virus, TLR21 ligand), followed by real-time PCR analysis. The expression of
CATH1, CATH2
and
CATH3
was identified in all oviductal segments, except for
CATH2
which was lacked in the magnum. The expression of
CATHB1
was not identified at any segments of the oviduct. Poly I:C down-regulated the expression of
CATH1, -2
and
-3
, whereas R848 up-regulated the expression of
CATH1
and
CATH3
but down-regulated the expression of
CATH2
. CpG-ODN did not affect the
CATH
s expression. These results suggest that mucosal tissues of the oviduct express
CATH
s to provide the defense mechanism against microbes, and the expression of
CATH1
and
CATH3
is up-regulated against ssRNA viruses, whereas, dsRNA virus may suppress the expression of
CATH1, -2
and
-3
.