ESPRESSIONE DEI RECETTORI TOLL-LIKE IN ORGANI MURINI ADULTI ED EMBRIONALI

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are members of a conserved family of type I transmembrane proteins that play a key role in innate immunity through their function as Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) that detect microbial and non-microbial components known as Microorganism Associated Molecular Patterns (MAMPs).In mammals, TLRs are widely expressed in many cell types, including nervous cells and epithelial and endothelial cells of hollow and parenchymatous organs. Having demonstrated in a previous study the expression of TLR4 and TLR7 in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) of human and murine adults, the aim of the present study was to investigate if their expression is already present during murine peripheral nervous system and other parenchymatous organs (adrenal gland, liver and pancreas) development and to compare with adult pattern of expression.