Antigen: mouse TLR11 amino acids 911-926 · Host: rabbit · Application(s): WB and FC (intracellular) · The toll-like receptors (TLRs) in mammals comprise a family of transmembrane proteins characterized by multiple copies of leucine rich repeats in the extracellular domain and an interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor motif in the cytoplasmic domain. Like their counterparts in Drosophila, TLRs signal through adaptor molecules.¹ The TLR family is a phylogenetically conserved mediator of innate immunity that is essential for microbial recognition.² Most mammalian species have between ten and fifteen types of TLRs. Ten functional TLRs (TLR1-10) have been identified in human. Humans also encode a TLR11 gene but it contains several stop codons and protein is not expressed. However, mouse and rat TLR11 are functional, and it is thought that human TLR11 function was lost during evolution. Historically speaking, TLR expression has been most extensively studied in the immune system. Overall, TLRs are highly expressed in immune competent cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, mucosal epithelial cells, and dermal endothelial cells. However, TLRs have also been identified in many other cell types and anatomical tissue locations where they are expressed either constitutively or induced during infection. TLR11 does not respond to known TLR ligands but instead responds specifically to uropathogenic bacteria. TLR11-deficient mice are highly susceptible to infection of the kidneys by uropathogenic bacteria, indicating that TLR11 may play a protective role in preventing infection of internal organs of the urogenital system.

1 Srivastava, M.D., and Srivastava, B.I.S. Expression of mRNA and proteins for toll-like receptors, associated molecules, defensins and LL-37 by SRIK-NKL, a CD8+ NK/T cell line. Leuk Res 7 813-820 (2005).

2 Gibson, F.C., Hong, C., Chou, H., et al. Innate immune recognition of invasive bacteria accelerates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Circulation 109 2801-2806 (2004).

Gibson, F.C., Hong, C., Chou, H., et al. Innate immune recognition of invasive bacteria accelerates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Circulation 109 2801-2806 (2004).

Srivastava, M.D., and Srivastava, B.I.S. Expression of mRNA and proteins for toll-like receptors, associated molecules, defensins and LL-37 by SRIK-NKL, a CD8+ NK/T cell line. Leuk Res 7 813-820 (2005).