title: Increased expression of toll-like receptors 2 and 4 and related cytokines in persistent allergic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the crucial components of host defenses and supposed to play a role in nasal inflammation such as chronic rhinosinusitis and seasonal allergic rhinitis. This study was performed to investigate the expression patterns of TLRs and related cytokines in persistent allergic rhinitis (PER).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study of human nasal tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nasal biopsy specimens were obtained from 21 patients with PER and 21 controls from December 2012 to September 2013. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of TLR1-9, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-α, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The cellular localizations as well as protein expression of TLR2 and TLR4 were further detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TLR1-9 mRNA could be determined in nasal mucosa. Compared with the controls, mRNA expression of only TLR2 and TLR4 was significant higher in patients with PER (P < .05). In addition, mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-8, but not IL-1, IL-12, IFN-α, and TNF-α, was upregulated in patients with PER vs control subjects (P < .05). However, these increased cytokines were not correlated with either TLR2 or TLR4 in patients with PER. Protein expression of TLR2 and TLR4 was consistent with mRNA levels (P < .05). The cellular distributions of TLR2 and TLR4 were localized in nasal epithelium, subepithelial glands and capillary endothelial cells, and immune cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TLR2 and TLR4 are increased in patients with PER and may be one of the major contributors to the persistence and aggravation of allergic inflammation in PER.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Chen-Jie
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Zi-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China International Centre for Allergy Research, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China International Centre for Allergy Research, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China jspent@126.com.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000276:immunology*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4
keywords: Toll-like receptors; cytokines; innate immunity; nasal mucosa; persistent allergic rhinitis