A new cell-based innate immune receptor assay for the examination of receptor activity, ligand specificity, signalling pathways and the detection of pyrogens.

The pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of the innate immune system are the first defence line of the immune system. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the most well known and the best examined of the PR receptors. In the last years TLRs had been studied in different ways resulting in a lot of new insights in the function and signalling pathways of these receptors.

Microsomal epoxide hydrolase expression in the endometrial uterine corpus is regulated by progesterone during the menstrual cycle.

We have shown previously that high expression levels of microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) correlate with a poor prognosis of breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen, suggesting that enhanced mEH expression could lead to antiestrogen resistance (Fritz et al. in J Clin Oncol 19:3-9, 2001). Thus, the purpose of this study was to gain insights into the role of mEH in hormone-responsive tissues.