title: Possible association of Toll-like receptor 9 polymorphisms with cytokine levels and posttraumatic symptoms in individuals with various types of orthopaedic trauma: early findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although TLR9 polymorphisms may be associated with cytokine dysregulation, its role in regulation of cytokines due to bodily trauma or in relation to acute stress symptoms or posttraumatic stress symptoms (ASS/PTS) has not been evaluated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess serum cytokine levels and levels of ASS and PTS in relation to four common TLR9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in individuals with various types of orthopaedic trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight accident-injured individuals, aged 20-60 years were studied. Serum cytokine levels and TLR9 SNPS (1486T/C, 1237T/C, 1174G/A and 2848G/A) were assessed together with intensity of ASS and PTS symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant higher serum levels of IL-12 and IL-1β (p<.05) were found in individuals heterozygous for TLR9-1237 (TC) than in individuals expressing the most common TLR9-1237 type (TT), while differences in levels of IL-6 were not significant. Also, marginally significant levels of IL-6 were found in individuals expressing the common TLR9-1174 (GG) compared with individuals homozygous (AA) or heterozygous (GA) for this SNP. They also had non-significant higher intensity of ASS symptoms. A trend of higher PTS levels in individuals expressing the most common type TLR9-1174 (GG) was found, contrary to homozygous (AA) and heterozygous individuals (GA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this pilot study suggest that accident-injured individuals with certain TLR9 polymorphisms express higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-12). The associations of TLR9 SNPSs with increased risk of ASS or PTS should be further studied in larger groups of such patients.
authors: Department of Gerontology and School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: cohenm@research.haifa.ac.il.
authors: Miri
authors: M
authors: Cohen
authors: Gershon
authors: G
authors: Volpin
authors: Tamar
authors: T
authors: Meir
authors: Ehud
authors: E
authors: Klein
authors: Rina
authors: R
authors: Katz
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Assaf
authors: Shimon
authors: S
authors: Pollack
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; C495371:TLR9 protein, human; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9
keywords: Acute stress symptoms (ASS); Cytokines; Orthopaedic trauma; Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS); Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)