Expression of Toll-like receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum inflammatory cytokine in patients with liver failure / 中华临床感染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the serum inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with liver failure. Methods The expressions of TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA in PBMCs were detected by RT-PCR in 20 healthy controls, 20 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 18 liver failure patients in early stage and 14 in intermediate-end stage. The serum contents of endotoxin, TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with the healthy controls, the expression of TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA, and the contents of endotoxin, TNF-α and IL-6 increased in CHB patients and liver failure patients ( both early stage and intermediate-end stage) ( F = 32.997, 37.476, 23. 951,57. 265 and 38. 403, P < 0.01 ). TLR2 mRNA expression in liver failure patients in intermediate-end stage was higher than that in the early stage, but that for TLR4 mRNA was lower than that in early stage. The expressions of TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA in PBMCs were significantly correlated with the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 ( r = 0. 917 and 0. 788, P < 0. 01 ). Conclusion The inflammation reaction mediated by TLR2 and TLR4 might participate in the pathogenesis of liver failure.