Description
Extrarenal viral infections commonly trigger glomerulonephritis mostly in association with immune complex disease. The immunoglobulin component of immune complexes can activate glomerular cell Fc receptors but whether complexed viral nucleic acids contribute to glomerular inflammation remains unknown. Glomerular mesangial cells express TLR3 but lack TLR7-9, hence, it is unclear whether mesangial cells can recognize and respond to viral ssRNA or DNA. Here we studied the immune responses activated by 3P-RNA (5'Triphosphate RNA) and Non-CpG DNA (Double stranded DNA) in primary mesangial cells (PMC).