Perpustakaan Digital ITB

Innate immune response is a host defense in immediate and generic way, while adaptive immune system works specifically. Unlike the adaptive immune system which is gained after birth, establishment of innate immune system in mammalian is not well understood. In early phase of embryo development, the blastocyst is actually challenged by maternal environment of uterus since it connects directly to outer part of body. Some infections of pathogens are potentially causing miscarriage in early pregnancy. Moreover, the early embryo has not implanted into maternal endometrial wall to form the placenta yet, which is assumed there is no direct protection from maternal immune system either adaptive immune system. The survival of embryo is hypothesized as indication of innate immune system in early development phase. This study identified gene expression of Toll-like Receptor (TLR) 1-9, important receptors in innate immunity, in mouse embryonic stem cell (MESC) of early embryo. MESC was cultured on two conditions: on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cells and on E-cadherin-Fc, a chimeric molecule of extracellular domain of E-Cadherin and Fc region of IgG (Immunoglobulin G). E-cad-Fc culture was designed to maintain MESC characteristics and remove gene expression influence from feeder cell. The RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) was extracted and reverse-transcripted, and then the gene expression was identified by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) method using TLRs 1-9 primers. We found that TLR7 and TLR8, but not others, were expressed in MESC. In innate immune system, TLR7 and TLR8 are involved in viral recognition, especially ssRNA virus. In conclusion, the innate immune system in early development of embryo probably existed, and the TLR7 and TLR8 genes that are expressed suggest that early embryo defense was probably for viral infection. This finding provides a new clue for future medication of infection on early pregnancy.