A viral infection is detected through germline-encoded pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) leading to the production of interferons (IFNs) and proinflammatory cytokines. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) in response to viral infection and the selected cytokine responses in the human term placenta. Placental villi and decidual explants were infected with human cytomegalovirus (CMV) or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and cultured ex vivo to study viral infection. To evaluate DDX58 (RIG-I), IFIH1 (MDA5), and DHX58 (LGP2) expression, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used. The expression of RLRs was detected by Western blotting. Cytokine and chemokine production, as well as RLR protein levels, were quantified using ELISA. The increased expression of both RIG-I and MDA5 and the enhanced secretion of IFN-ß were observed in response to VSV infection compared to mock-infected tissues. CMV infection resulted in higher transcript levels of DDX58 and IFIH1, while no changes in the cytokine production were observed. Our results indicate that RIG-I and MDA5 are specifically expressed in chorionic villi and deciduae in response to VSV infection. These findings suggest that RLRs may play a key role in pathogen recognition and the immune response against intrauterine viral transmission.

病毒感染是通过种系编码的模式识别受体（PRR）检测的，从而导致干扰素（IFN）和促炎细胞因子的产生。本研究的目的是研究视黄酸诱导基因-I (RIG-I) 样受体 (RLR) 响应病毒感染的表达以及人足月胎盘中选定的细胞因子反应。胎盘绒毛和蜕膜外植体感染人巨细胞病毒（CMV）或水泡性口炎病毒（VSV）并离体培养以研究病毒感染。为了评估DDX58 (RIG-I)、 IFIH1 (MDA5) 和DHX58 (LGP2) 表达，使用定量实时 PCR (qRT-PCR)。通过Western blotting检测RLRs的表达。使用 ELISA 对细胞因子和趋化因子的产生以及 RLR 蛋白水平进行定量。与模拟感染的组织相比，VSV 感染后 RIG-I 和 MDA5 的表达增加，IFN-β 的分泌增加。 CMV 感染导致DDX58和IFIH1转录水平升高，但未观察到细胞因子产生的变化。我们的结果表明，RIG-I 和 MDA5 在响应 VSV 感染的绒毛膜绒毛和蜕膜中特异性表达。这些发现表明，RLR 可能在病原体识别和针对宫内病毒传播的免疫反应中发挥关键作用。