ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:The influence of Tol-like receptor 2 (TLR2), Tol-like receptor 4 (TLR4), Tol-like receptor 6 (TLR6) signal transduction pathway and active Treg in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura has been unknown. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and Treg immune response in patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura, and to explore the role of TLR2, TLR4, TLR6 and Treg activation in the pathogenesis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura. METHODForty-two hospitalized children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura were enrol ed in this study. Another 15 healthy children were selected as controls. TLR2, TLR4 and TLR6 at protein level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by flow cytometey;reverse-transcription PCR and real-time PCR were used to evaluate the level of MyD88;the levels of transforming growth factor-βand interleukin-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. t-test or t’-test was used to compare the levels of these genes and proteins. Pearson’s correlation test was done for correlation analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, the protein levels of TLR2, TLR4, TLR6 and the relative expression level of MyD88 mRNA were significantly up-regulated (P0.05). The excessive activation of TLR2, TLR4, TLR6 may be involved in the process of Henoch-Schonlein purpura via MyD88-dependent pathway, and the compensatory activation of Treg may participate in protective immunity.