ReviewThe Journal of reproduction and development2026
Innate immune system for a crosstalk of sperm-egg-uterine epithelium towards fertility: Toll-like receptor 2 as a physiological sensor.
Review in The Journal of reproduction and development, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
In cattle, innate immunity plays a key role in the crosstalk between sperm, egg, and uterus, which is critical for the success of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). This review highlights Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) as a physiological sensor that modulates these interactions. Following artificial insemination, TLR2-mediated sperm-uterine interactions initiate a controlled immune response. This response is essential for clearing excess sperm and preparing the endometrium for embryo implantation. Similar to sperm, the egg yolk-based semen extender could also activate endometrial TLR2, leading to a mild uterine inflammation. This spotlights a dual role for TLR2: a sensor for sperm and a responder to external stimuli from ART. Beyond these artificial factors, microbial components either disrupt or support uterine health via TLR2. Peptidoglycan (PGN) from pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus induces inflammation and negatively impacts fertility. In contrast, PGN from beneficial bacteria like Lacticaseibacillus and Lactobacillus suppresses TLR2-mediated inflammation, promoting uterine homeostasis. Beyond the uterus, sperm-TLR2 activation improves fertilization and embryo development during in vitro embryo production. TLR2 is also functionally expressed in early bovine embryos, where its activation enhances embryo developmental competence. Collectively, TLR2 is a physiological sensor during early reproductive events in cattle, and its activation could be a strong approach to improve ARTs.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.