Analysis on the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patients with ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis and its clinical significance / 中国实用内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the differential expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)between the patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS),rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and the healthy individuals as well as its clinical significance.Methods The expression level of TLR4 mRNA in PBMCs was determined from 60 AS patients,30 RA patients and 30 healthy controls by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)and plasma C-reactive protein(CRP)were detected automatically respectively by ESR automatic analyzer and specific protein electrophoresis analyzer.Results The expression level of TLR4 mRNA in PBMC was significantly higher in patients with AS or RA than in the controls,while no significant difference was observed between the two disease groups.Furthermore,both HLA-B27-positive and -negative AS patients showed higher TLR4 mRNA level than healthy controls,and HLA-B27-positive AS patients higher than RA patients.However,there was no significant difference between HLA-B27-positive,-negative AS and RA patients.In HLA-B27-positive AS patients,close correlations between TLR4 mRNA and ESR or CRP were observed,but no correlation observed in HLA-B27 negative patients.In RA patients,the level of TLR4 mRNA correlated with CRP.Conclusion The expression level of TLR4 mRNA is elevated in PBMC from either AS or RA patients.Although the upregulation of TLR4 mRNA is not associated with whether HLA-B27 is positive or not in AS patients,it is more significant in HLA-B27-positive AS than in RA.Furthermore,the correlations between the expression of TLR4 mRNA and ESR or CRP are influenced by HLA-B27 antigen in AS patients.In conclusion,the present results indicate that the abnormal expression of TLR4 might play a role in the development and progression of AS and RA.