Expressions and significance of Toll-like receptor 3 and Toll-like receptor 4 in renal tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in childhood primary IgA nephropathy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expressions and clinical significance of Toll like receptor (TLR) 3 and TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and renal tissues of children with primary IgA nephropathy. Methods A total of 34 children with primary IgA nephropathy were selected as the IgA nephropathy group, who were confirmed by renal biopsy, from the Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, from September 2014 to June 2016.In the same period, 7 cases of renal tumor who underwent nephrectomy in Pediatric Surgery became control group A, and 10 cases of healthy children became control group B, and the expressions of TLR3 and TLR4 in renal tissue were detected by adopting immunohistochemistry between IgA nephropathy group and control group A, and the positive expression rate of TLR3 and TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by using flow cytometry in IgA nephropathy group.The expression of TLR3 and TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of IgA nephropathy group and control group B were observed and compared. Results The expressions of TLR3 and TLR4 in renal tissue of IgA nephropathy group were respectively (68.28±6.37)% and 0.048±0.018, which were significantly higher than TLR3 [(9.69±11.02)%] and TLR4 (0.003±0.001) in the control group A, and the differences were statistically significant (t=50.080, 14.374, all P<0.01). The positive expressions of TLR3 and TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of IgA nephropathy group were respectively (17.62±8.33)% and (23.85±11.82)%, while the expressions were (0.31±0.06)% and (3.02±0.09)% respectively in the control group B, and the differences were statistically significant (t=12.109, 11.612, all P<0.05). Conclusion The expressions of TLR3 and TLR4 in renal tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of IgA nephropathy are increased, suggesting that the abnormal activation of TLR3 and TLR4 may be involved in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. Key words: Toll like receptor 3; Toll like receptor 4; IgA nephropathy; Peripheral blood mononuclear cell; Renal tissue