Toll-like receptor 7 and 9 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis B and related hepatocellular carcinoma
Abstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and 9 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and related hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods: The study group was comprised of 52 patients: 41 with chronic hepatitis B and 11 healthy controls. The protein and mRNA levels of TLR7 and TLR9 were evaluated using real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and flow cytometry. We also detected the serum viral load of HBV in the patients and analyzed the correlation between HBV–DNA copies and the TLR expression.
Results: Our results demonstrated a lower TLR7 expression in all HBV infection groups compared to the controls. We found that HBV infection led to a decreased expression of TLR9 mRNA, but an increased expression of the TLR9 protein compared to the healthy group. The TLR protein levels are related to serum HBV–DNA (P<0.01).
Conclusion: There are downregulations of TLR7 expression and TLR9 mRNA in PBMC of HBV-infected patients, but an increased TLR9 expression at the protein level.
Keywords:
Methods: The study group was comprised of 52 patients: 41 with chronic hepatitis B and 11 healthy controls. The protein and mRNA levels of TLR7 and TLR9 were evaluated using real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and flow cytometry. We also detected the serum viral load of HBV in the patients and analyzed the correlation between HBV–DNA copies and the TLR expression.
Results: Our results demonstrated a lower TLR7 expression in all HBV infection groups compared to the controls. We found that HBV infection led to a decreased expression of TLR9 mRNA, but an increased expression of the TLR9 protein compared to the healthy group. The TLR protein levels are related to serum HBV–DNA (P<0.01).
Conclusion: There are downregulations of TLR7 expression and TLR9 mRNA in PBMC of HBV-infected patients, but an increased TLR9 expression at the protein level.