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.
III. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital, University of Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic. hana.ciferska@volny.cz
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Ciferska
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Horak
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Konttinen
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Krejci
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Tichy
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Hermanova
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Zadrazil
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