Dysregulation of toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 expression on monocytes and upregulation of the frequency of T cells expressing TLR2 in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) initiate inflammatory responses that may play a role in disease progression in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). TLR2 and TLR4 surface expression were assessed on CD14(+) monocytes, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in treatment naïve patients with chronic HCV infection with fibrosis, without fibrosis, co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and in healthy controls. Increased expression of TLR2 was found on monocytes in HCV-infected patients with fibrosis (p < 0.01), co-infected with HIV (p = 0.03), and possibly in patients without fibrosis (p = 0.07) when compared to controls. TLR2 positive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were upregulated in patients with fibrosis only (p < 0.01). However, expression of TLR2 was not associated with T cell activation. TLR4 expression was similar in patients and healthy controls. In conclusion, TLR2 expression on monocytes and the frequency of T cells expressing TLR2 may contribute to disease progression in chronic HCV infection.
Viro-immunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases M5121, University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
Andreas
A
Ronit
Mohammad
M
Salem
Hans J
HJ
Hartling
Julie C
JC
Gaardbo
Henrik
H
Ullum
Jan
J
Gerstoft
Susanne D
SD
Nielsen
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060085:Coinfection; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
C495342:TLR2 protein, human; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4