Human conjunctival epithelial cells express functional Toll-like receptor 5

Abstract

Human conjunctival epithelium harbours functional TLR5. Considering the spatially selective basolateral localisation of TLR5 protein, it was postulated that flagellins from ocular pathogenic bacteria induce inflammatory responses when disruption of the epithelial barrier permits their transmigration to the basolateral side but not under healthy physiological conditions on the ocular surface.