title: TLR4 and TLR2 expression in biopsy specimens from antral and corporal stomach zones in Helicobacter pylori infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is not yet known which types of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are most effective in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) recognition. It is also not known which gastric zones have the most prominent roles in TLR-mediated bacterial recognition. The aim of this work was to analyze the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in biopsy specimens from H. pylori-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients with gastrointestinal disorders were divided into four groups in this study. The groups were: (A) H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer (n=15), (B) peptic ulcer only (n=5), (C) H. pylori infection only (n=10) and (D) control, with neither H. pylori infection nor peptic ulcer (n=8). Biopsy specimens from sites of redness or atrophic mucosa from gastric antrum and body in patients with gastritis were collected. RNAs from the antrum and body specimens were isolated. TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR and quantified as densitometric ratios of TLR2 and TLR4/β-actin mRNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the antral zones of H. pylori-infected patients (Groups A and C) TLR2 and TLR4 expression was significantly greater than in uninfected patients (Groups B and D) regardless of peptic ulcers (p < 0.05). In the gastric body samples TLR2 expression was significantly greater in Group C (H. pylori infection only) than in Group B (peptic ulcer only) and TLR4 expression was significantly greater in group A (H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer) than in Group B (peptic ulcer only) (p < 0.05). No significant differences in expression of TLR4 and TLR2 were observed between samples from the antrum and body in same groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that H. pylori infection leads to significant increase in TLR2 and TLR4 molecules expression in antral region related to the control group. Considering the stimulatory effect of H. pylori on TLRs expression in the gastric tissue, we assume that colonization of H. pylori infection might occurs more in the gastric antral region than in the gastric body.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Zakariya Research Center, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran; Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khakzad
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Mashhad Branch, Aria Hospital, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saffari
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohamadpour
authors.affiliation: Immunobiochemistry lab, Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sankian
authors.affiliation: Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varasteh
authors.affiliation: Immunobiochemistry lab, Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salari
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Zakariya Research Center, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meshkat
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; Peptic ulcer; TLR4; TLR2; Toll-like receptors