- 作者：Petros C. Benias ; PBenias@chpnet.org ; Pbenias@gmail.com ; Kavitha Gopal KGopal@chpnet.org ; Henry Bodenheimer Jr. HBodenhe@chpnet.org ; Neil D. Theise NTheise@chpnet.org
- 刊名：Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology
- 出版年：2012
- 出版时间：October, 2012
- 年：2012
- 卷：36
- 期：5
- 页码：448-454
- 全文大小：1712 K
Summary
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) may play a role in the inflammatory patterns observed in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We investigated TLR 3, 4 and 9 expression in PBC and CHC using immunohistochemical staining.Methods
Patient biopsies of PBC (N = 11) and CHC (N = 15) were compared to disease free livers (n = 7). The extent of TLR staining was assessed separately according to a semi-quantitative scale for hepatocytes, cholangiocytes and portal mononuclear cells (PMC).
Results
In hepatocytes, TLR4 expression was increased (PBC; P = 0.019), as was TLR9 (PBC; P = 0.006, CHC; P = 0.001). Cholangiocyte expression of TLRs 4 and 3 was reduced in both PBC (TLR4; P < 0.0001, TLR3; P = 0.006) and CHC (TLR4; P < 0.0001, TLR3; P = 0.014). Cholangiocyte expression of TLR9 was elevated for both groups and was significant in CHC (P = 0.0115). PMCs showed up-regulation of TLR9 in PBC (P = 0.022) and CHC (P = 0.0001), with almost no expression of TLR 3 or 4.
Conclusions
In PBC and CHC, hepatocytes showed increased TLR 4 and 9 expression without change in TLR3. Cholangiocytes showed increased TLR9 expression as opposed to down-regulation of TLRs 3 and 4. PMCs in both diseases had significantly increased TLR 9 expression perhaps implicating TLR9 expression in chronic liver inflammation.