Molecular cloning and tissue expression of canine Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is involved in an important role on inflammatory reactions against various pathogenic microorganisms. Although some investigations suggested a relation between human and murine TLR2 gene polymorphisms and infections or inflammatory reactions, canine TLR2 gene has not been investigated. In the present study, therefore, the canine full-length of cDNA of Toll-like receptor 2 gene was sequenced and the expression of canine TLR2 mRNA was investigated in various tissues. Canine TLR2 clone was 2552 bp encoding 785 amino acids. The similarities of canine TLR2 with human, mouse, rat, cattle, horse and pig TLR2 were 87.6, 72.9, 73.2, 83.1, 85.1 and 80.7% at the nucleotide sequence level, and 84.6, 68.7, 68.5, 78.8, 82.9 and 79.0% at amino acid sequence level, respectively. By a semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, mRNA of canine TLR2 was detected in blood mononuclear cells (BMCs), lymph node, lung, liver, spleen, bladder, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine and skin of the dogs.