Expression of TLR9 and BD-2 protein genes in corneal cells of mice of different strains with herpetic keratitis.

ABSTRACT

The dynamics of gene expression of two proteins, TLR9 (one of the key receptors recognizing CpG repeats of herpes virus DNA) and ß-defensin 2 (antibacterial peptide), was studied on the model of herpetic keratitis in C57Bl/6 and BALB/c mice. New data on differences in TLR9 gene expression in mice of the two strains infected with the virus were obtained. Reduced TLR9 gene expression in the cornea of C57Bl/6 mice was associated with their high sensitivity to infection caused by herpes simplex 1 virus.