title: Study of the expression of toll-like receptors in different histological types of colorectal polyps and their relationship with colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dysregulation of toll-like receptors (TLR) signaling can result in chronic inflammatory and over-exuberant repair responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical relevance of TLR in colorectal polyps.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression levels of six TLR were analyzed in 70 patients with different histological types of colorectal polyps, 38 of which developed colorectal carcinoma (CC). These analyses were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TLR9 expression was higher in hyperplastic or adenomatous polyps compared to other polyp types. Hyperplastic polyps also showed increased TLR7 levels compared to the other polyp types. TLR7 expression was lower in both hyperplastic and tubulovillous adenoma polyps from patients who developed CC. TLR9 expression was decreased in hyperplastic and villous polyps from patients who developed CC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest a possible protective role of TLR expression against malignant transformation in the colorectal mucosa. TLR may represent a pathological marker of CC risk in colorectal polyps. The role of these factors in the pathology of colorectal polyps deserves further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación, Hospital de Jove, Avenida Eduardo Castro s/n, C.P. 33290, Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
authors.forename: Noemí
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eiró
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Luis O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andicoechea
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández-Díaz
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altadill
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vizoso
mesh_terms: D018256:Adenomatous Polyps / Q000276:immunology; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000276:immunology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C495348:TLR7 protein, human; C495371:TLR9 protein, human; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9