Pathogen Recognition in the Human Female Reproductive Tract: Expression of Intracellular Cytosolic Sensors NOD 1, NOD 2, RIG ‐1, and MDA 5 and response to HIV ‐1 and N eisseria gonorrhea

Problem Expression patterns and regulation of cytosolic pattern recognition receptors ( PRR ) NOD ‐1, NOD ‐2, RIG ‐1, and MDA 5 have not been elucidated in the human female reproductive tract ( FRT ). Method of study Primary epithelial cells ( EC ) isolated from F allopian tube ( FT ), endometrium ( EM ), cervix ( C x), and ectocervix ( E cx) were treated with estradiol, poly( I : C ), N eisseria gonorrhea ( GC ), and HIV ‐1. PRR mRNA expressions were analyzed by R eal‐time RT‐PCR . Conditioned media were analyzed for IL ‐8 by ELISA . Results EC from all FRT compartments constitutively expressed NOD 1, NOD 2, RIG ‐1, and MDA 5 with highest levels expressed by FT . Stimulation with poly( I : C ) resulted in upregulation of NOD 2, RIG ‐1, and MDA 5 in all FRT compartments and correlated with increased secretion of IL ‐8, whereas estradiol treatment had no effects. Exposure to GC and HIV ‐1 IIIB but not B a L resulted in selective upregulation of NOD 2 and MDA 5. Conclusion PRR are expressed throughout the FRT and differentially regulated by poly( I : C ), GC and HIV ‐1.