Expression of nucleic acid binding Toll-like receptors in control, lupus and transplanted kidneys--a preliminary pilot study.
We hypothesized that nucleic acids, free and/or complexed, filtered and/or locally released, might be entrapped in the kidneys because of the specific nucleic acid binding microbial pattern recognizing Toll-like receptors (TLRs). This hypothesis of nucleic acid binding potential was tested using paraffin sections from healthy control, SLE and transplant kidneys, which were labelled using TLR-specific rabbit or goat anti-human antibodies in immunoperoxidase staining. Normal and transplant kidneys contain some double- (TLR-3) and single-stranded RNA binding (TLR-8) receptors, but in particular double-stranded RNA binding receptor TLR-7, mostly in tubuli, whereas no DNA binding TLR-9 was found. SLE kidneys contain more TLR-3 and TLR-8 and express de novo also TLR-9, in particular in glomeruli. On the contrary, TLR-7 was relatively weak in SLE. It is concluded that kidneys have a capacity to bind nucleic acids. TLR stimulation leads to the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and other pro-inflammatory cytokines and to up-regulation of co-stimulatory molecules necessary for the adaptive immune response. This makes renal tissues a potential target for inflammatory and immune responses in autoimmune disease and in the reaction for the foreign tissue.
Ciferska
H
H
III. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital, University of Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic. hana.ciferska@volny.cz
Horak
P
P
Konttinen
Y T
YT
Krejci
K
K
Tichy
T
T
Hermanova
Z
Z
Zadrazil
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D009696:Nucleic Acids; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors