Expression of Toll-like receptors in lesions of condyloma acuminatum

Abstract

Objective To measure the expressions of Toll like receptors (TLRs) in lesions of condyloma acuminatum (CA). Methods Tissue samples were resected from lesions of 25 patients with CA and normal skin of 16 human controls. Frozen sections were prepared and the expressions of TLRs 1 - 10 were measured by immunohistochemical staining. Results In normal skin samples, there was a strong expression of TLR 6 and 9, medium expression of TLR 1, 3, 10 and weak expression of TLR 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 in the stratum corneum and stratum granulosum, but a weak or negative expression of TLRs in the stratum spinosum and stratum basale. In contrast, a strong expression of TLR 1, 3, 6, 9, medium expression of TLR 4, 8, 10 and weak expression of TLR 2, 5, 7 were detected in keratinocytes of almost all epidermal layers except for stratum basale in CA lesions. Conclusions The expressions of TLRs, especially TLR 1, 3, 6, 9, are markedly enhanced in proliferated keratinocytes in CA lesions compared with normal skin, which is likely to be associated with anti-viral immunity triggered by HPV infection. Key words: Toll-like receptors; Condylomata acuminata; Staining and labeling; Papillomaviridae