Change of Toll-like receptors in children with acute Epstein-barr virus infection

Abstract

Objective To investigate the possible role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in immunological pathogenesis of Epstein-barr virus(EBV) infection. Methods Fifteen children with acute EBV infection, 18 children with infectious mononucleosis (IM), and 25 age-matched healthy children were enrolled in the study.Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and real-time PCR were used to evaluate the levels of TLR2, TLR3, TLR7, TLR9, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), TGF-β activated kinase 1 (TAK1), TIR domain-containing adaptor protein inducing interferon β (TRIF), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3), TBK1, IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-α and IFN-β mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC). The plasma concentrations of cytokines such as IL-12 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results 1.Compared with healthy control group, the expression levels of TLR2, TLR3, TLR7, TLR9, MyD88, TRAF6, TAK1, TRIF, TRAF3 and TBK1 mRNA were up-regulated significantly from the children with acute EBV infection and IM (all P 0.05).2.The levels of cytokines expression such as IL-1β, TNF- α, IFN-α and IFN-β in children with acute EBV infection were higher than those of the healthy control group (all P<0.05).3.The plasma concentrations of IL-12 and IFN-γ were up-regulated (all P<0.05) in children with acute EBV infection. Conclusion Imbalance of antiviral /inflammatory response resulting from the aberrant activation of TLRs may be one of the factors causing disturbed immunological function in vivo infected by EBV. Key words: Epstein-barr virus; Infectious mononucleosis; Toll-like receptor