TLR4 and TLR9 Expression in Different Phenotypes of Rhinitis

Maria Lauriello,Alessandra Micera,Lino Di Rienzo Businco,Sergio Bonini,Paola Muzi

doi:10.1155/2012/925164

Abstract

Background. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) represent a family of evolutionarily conserved proteins, that represent a fundamental link between innate and adaptive immune responses. Aim. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of TLR4 and TLR9 in the normal nasal mucosa and in the mucosa of subjects with different phenotypes of rhinitis. Methodology. A confocal analysis of TLR4 and TLR9 (co)expression was carried out on biopsies from the inferior turbinate obtained from 4 patients affected by persistent allergic rhinitis, 8 patients with chronic rhino-sinusitis, and 6 patients with vasomotor rhinitis The results were compared with those of specimens obtained from 4 subjects undergoing nasal surgery, but with signs of nasal inflammation. Results. TLR4 and TLR9 were expressed in the healthy nasal mucosa; TLR4 and TLR9 expression was significantly decreased in allergic rhinitis. TLR4 was over expressed in the epithelium of chronic rhino-sinusitis. Both TLRs were co-expressed in the sub-epithelial infiltrate of chronic and vasomotor rhinitis, even though this expression was higher in the former compared with the latter. Conclusions. This study indicates that TLR4 and TLR9 show a different pattern of expression in different phenotypes of rhinitis, possibly related to the type and severity of the disease.

Highlights

Innate immunity plays a selective and specific role in destroying pathogens and presenting antigens to the cells involved in adaptive immune response [1, 2]
While the expression of TLR4 was increased by 40.1% versus that observed in healthy controls (536,45 ± 123,50 versus 382,78 ± 60,44; P < 0.05) the expression of TLR9 was decreased by −23,32% (328,60 ± 41,62 versus 428,52 ± 116,52; P > 0.05)
This study shows that TLR4 and TLR9 are differently expressed in the nasal mucosa of healthy subjects and of the major rhinitis phenotypes

Summary

Introduction

Innate immunity plays a selective and specific role in destroying pathogens and presenting antigens to the cells involved in adaptive immune response [1, 2]. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) represent a family of evolutionarily conserved proteins, that represent a fundamental link between innate and adaptive immune responses. A confocal analysis of TLR4 and TLR9 (co)expression was carried out on biopsies from the inferior turbinate obtained from 4 patients affected by persistent allergic rhinitis, 8 patients with chronic rhino-sinusitis, and 6 patients with vasomotor rhinitis The results were compared with those of specimens obtained from 4 subjects undergoing nasal surgery, but with signs of nasal inflammation. TLR4 was over expressed in the epithelium of chronic rhino-sinusitis Both TLRs were co-expressed in the subepithelial infiltrate of chronic and vasomotor rhinitis, even though this expression was higher in the former compared with the latter. This study indicates that TLR4 and TLR9 show a different pattern of expression in different phenotypes of rhinitis, possibly related to the type and severity of the disease

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion