title: Increase of toll-like receptor 4 but decrease of interleukin-8 mRNA expression among ischemic stroke patients under aspirin treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are molecules conserved in evolution for detecting pathogen invasions and tissue damage and are involved in atherogenesis. This study explores the mRNA expression of TLRs and their probable role in further disease occurrence among ischemic stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 89 ischemic stroke patients and 166 controls were recruited for this study. Total RNA was extracted and mRNA was reverse-transcribed to cDNA and was analyzed for TLRs and interleukin 8 (IL8).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TLR4 mRNA expression level is significantly higher in the stroke group. Conversely, IL-8 mRNA levels decreased significantly in the patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that TLR4 overexpression in mRNA levels is observed in stroke patients, which might account for the probable inflammatory injury before or after stroke. A reduction of IL-8 expression could result from the downregulatory effects of aspirin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jehn-Shing
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Hsing-Cheng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rey-Yue
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jia-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jau-Jiuan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Chia-Hsiu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Chaur-Jong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; C495344:TLR3 protein, human; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D001241:Aspirin