Effects of Virus-associated Molecular Patterns on the Expression of Cathelicidins in the Hen Vagina

The aim of this study was to examine the expression profiles of the cathelicidins (CATHs) in the oviduct and the effects of Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands of virus-associated molecular patterns on CATHs 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 CATHs 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 CATHs expression. These results suggest that mucosal tissues of the oviduct express CATHs 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.