title: Decreased expression of toll like receptor signaling molecules in chronic HBV infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toll like receptors (TLRs) and their signaling molecules play important roles in microbe recognition and induction of immune responses, including production of inflammatory cytokines, against viral infections. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine expression levels of TLR signaling molecules (IRAK1, IRAK4, TRAF3, and IRF7) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-12 and IL-6 in chronic HBV infected (CHB) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed on 60 CHB patients and 60 healthy controls and the expression of IRAK1, IRAK4, TRAF3, and IRF7 and their downstream inflammatory cytokines (IL-12 and IL-6) were evaluated by Real-Time PCR and ELISA techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated that expression of IRAK4, TRAF3, and IRF7 were significantly decreased in PBMCs of CHB patients in comparison to healthy controls. Serum levels of IL-12 were significantly increased, while, IL-6 were not differ between patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results presented here it seems that CHB patients do not express appropriate levels of the genes in the TLRs pathway which may lead to impaired immune responses against HBV infection which is seen in the patients.
authors.affiliation: Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momeni
authors.affiliation: Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zainodini
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bidaki
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamhossein
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hassanshahi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daneshvar
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khaleghinia
authors.affiliation: Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahim
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimi-Googheri
authors.affiliation: Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Askari
authors.affiliation: Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. Electronic address: dr.kazemi@rums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad Kazemi
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Arababadi
authors.affiliation: School of Biomolecular and Physical Science, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University Nathan, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D050839:Interferon Regulatory Factor-7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053592:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D048008:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D050839:Interferon Regulatory Factor-7; D048008:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D053592:Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases