title: Expression and functional analysis of toll-like receptors of peripheral blood cells in asthmatic patients: implication for immunopathological mechanism in asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the expression profile of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and TLR ligand-activated production profile of asthma-related inflammatory cytokines in asthmatic patients. The expression of TLR1-8 on monocytes, CD4+ T helper lymphocytes, CD8+ T cytotoxic lymphocytes, CD19+ B lymphocytes, and dendritic cells, and ex vivo production of cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells activated by TLR ligands were measured by flow cytometry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ex vivo productions of TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-1beta by TLR4 and TLR5 ligand LPS and flagellin were significantly lower in asthmatic patients (all P < 0.05). Expression of TLR4 and TLR5 was also found to be significantly lower in asthmatic patients when compared to that of control subjects (all P < 0.05). Therefore, the decreased activation of TLR4 and TLR5 in asthmatic patients might contribute to the immunopathological mechanisms of asthma by reducing the release of Th1 and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Samantha W M
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lun
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Fanny W S
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: David S C
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Christopher W K
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002469:Cell Separation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018941:Antigens, CD19; D016207:Cytokines; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors