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Expression and Functional Analysis of Toll-Like Receptors of Peripheral Blood Cells in Asthmatic Patients: Implication for Immunopathological Mechanism in Asthma

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Abstract

Background

We investigated the expression profile of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and TLR ligand-activated production profile of asthma-related inflammatory cytokines in asthmatic patients. The expression of TLR1–8 on monocytes, CD4+ T helper lymphocytes, CD8+ T cytotoxic lymphocytes, CD19+ B lymphocytes, and dendritic cells, and ex vivo production of cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells activated by TLR ligands were measured by flow cytometry.

Discussion

Ex vivo productions of TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-1β by TLR4 and TLR5 ligand LPS and flagellin were significantly lower in asthmatic patients (all P < 0.05). Expression of TLR4 and TLR5 was also found to be significantly lower in asthmatic patients when compared to that of control subjects (all P < 0.05). Therefore, the decreased activation of TLR4 and TLR5 in asthmatic patients might contribute to the immunopathological mechanisms of asthma by reducing the release of Th1 and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong

    Samantha W. M. Lun, C. K. Wong & Christopher W. K. Lam

  2. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong

    Fanny W. S. Ko & David S. C. Hui

  3. Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau

    Christopher W. K. Lam

Authors
  1. Samantha W. M. Lun
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  2. C. K. Wong
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  3. Fanny W. S. Ko
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  4. David S. C. Hui
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christopher W. K. Lam.

Additional information

Samantha W. M. Lun and C. K. Wong contributed equally to this study.

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Lun, S.W.M., Wong, C.K., Ko, F.W.S. et al. Expression and Functional Analysis of Toll-Like Receptors of Peripheral Blood Cells in Asthmatic Patients: Implication for Immunopathological Mechanism in Asthma. J Clin Immunol 29, 330–342 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-008-9269-1

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