engleski

Expression of Toll-Like Receptors in Human Peripheral Blood Cells.

Identification of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in mammals showed that innate immunity can recognize certain conserved microbial patterns through TLRs expressed in immune cells. TLR2 and TLR4 recognize lipopolysaccharides from Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively, while TLR9 recognizes unmethylated CpG motifs from bacterial DNA. Some compounds can inhibit signaling via TLRs ; for example, chloroquine blocks the cellular response to TLR9 stimulation. In our study we wanted to explore the possible role of TLRs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), since it is known that human autoimmune diseases can be triggered and/or aggravated during an infection. We analyzed the expression of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 on monocytes and B lymphocytes derived from human peripheral blood of patients with SLE. Healthy age- and gender-matched volunteers were included in the study as controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were labeled using two-color immunofluorescence staining and analyzed on a flow cytometer. The results showed statistically significant difference in expression of TLR2 between patients and healthy controls, and no difference in expression of TLR4 and TLR9 on monocytes. On B cells, TLR2 and TLR4 were almost undetectable, while no statistically significant difference in expression of TLR9 between patients and controls was found. Accordingly to the results of previous TLR mRNA analysis in PBMCs that found the expression of TLR9 at highest levels in B cells, our results showed the same on the protein level. We also have in progress a study which includes newly-discovered SLE patients undergoing therapy with oral corticosteroids alone, or corticosteroids and chloroquine. The observed effect of immunosuppresive drugs on TLR expression in these patients will be presented.

Toll-Like Receptors; Human Peripheral Blood Cells

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