Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern-associated receptors in innate immunity that may be involved in the recognition of self-antigens and the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. This study was undertaken to examine whether polymorphisms of TLR genes are associated with SLE and to determine the expression of various TLRs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with SLE. The TLR polymorphisms in a cohort of 143 Danish lupus patients and 432 healthy Danish blood donors were analysed. Groups were age matched. Genotyping for the TLR single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed using Sequenom Multiplex technology. In addition, the mRNA expression of TLRs in PBMCs from 56 SLE patients and 56 healthy controls was studies by quantitative real-time PCR. We found a genetic association with SLE and three SNPs located within the TLR3, TLR8 and TLR9 genes (rs3775291, P = 0.006; rs37648, P = 0.013; rs352143, P < 0.02). Furthermore, the relative TLR7, TLR8, IFN-α and LY6E mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in SLE patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P = 0.0004 and P < 0.0001, respectively). These results obtained from a female lupus population of Danish ancestry suggest that variations in TLR3, TLR8 and TLR9 genes are implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. If these polymorphisms are associated with innate immune dysfunction they may add to the growing field of theoretically well founded new therapeutic targets.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.