Influence of TLR-2 in the immune response in the infection induced by fungus Sporothrix schenckii

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in immunity, since they bind to pathogen surface antigens and initiate the immune response. However, little is known about the role of TLR-2 in the recognition of S. schenckii and in the subsequent immune response. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of TLR-2 in the immune response induced by S. schenckii. C57BL/6 mice (WT) and C57BL/6 TLR-2 knockout (TLR-2(-/-)) were used to evaluate, over a period of 10 weeks of sporotrichotic infection, the influence of TLR-2 over macrophages production of IL-1 beta, IL-12 and TNF-alpha, their stimulation level by NO release and the production of IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-17 and TGF-beta by spleen cells. The results showed that the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and NO, TLR-2 interference is striking, since its absence completely inhibited it. IL-17 production was independent of TLR-2. The absence of Th1 response in TLR2(-/-) animals was concomitant with IL-17 production. Therefore, it can be suggested that TLR-2 absence interferes with the course of the infection induced by the fungus S. schenckii.