title: Enhanced expression of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4, but not 9, in spleen tissue from patients with visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling is involved in first-line defence against Leishmania parasites by triggering NF-κB activation and downstream production of proinflammatory cytokines. Experimental models of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) support a protective role for TLRs 2, 4 and 9 in host immune responses to Leishmania infection. There are limited data available on expression of these TLRs in human VL, particularly in sites of infection, such as the spleen. This study aimed to determine whether the expression of mRNA encoding the expression of TLRs 2, 4 and 9 was altered in VL and compare expression patterns in splenic biopsies and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India; Immunology and Infection Lab, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nylen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000502:physiology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; C495371:TLR9 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9
keywords: Toll-like receptors; splenic aspirate; visceral leishmaniasis