Characterization of TLR4 signaling in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) isolated from the water buffalo resulted in the activation of TLR signaling intermediates as supported by the western blot of pERK. Activation of ERK resulted in phosphorylation of IkappaB-alpha which lead to its degradation which in turn followed by nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, which is also supported by the western blot analysis. The nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB culminated in the induction of mRNA expression of TNF-alpha. Thus this study demonstrates the TLR signaling in PBMCs of water buffalo which is as similar to that reported earlier in mice and human beings.