Expression of Toll-like receptor 3 and Toll-like receptor 4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in children and its clinical significance

Objective To explore the expressions and clinical significance of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 and TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) children. Methods According to their 24-hour urinary albumin and whether children with HSP had renal damage or not, 105 cases were divided into group A, B and C. Group A were children only with HSP but without renal damage, while group B were children only with HSPN not proteinuria and group C were children with both HSPN and proteinuria.Thirty healthy children were in healthy control group(group N). Flow cytometry (FCM) and real-time PCR detected the mRNA and protein expressions of TLR3 and TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Results 1.The mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were significantly higher in group A, B, C than those in group N(F=37.33, 24.01, all P 0.05).2.Moreover, there was a positive relationship between protein expression of TLR4 and 24-hour urinary albumin in group C(r=0.69, P 0.05).4.The expression of TLR4 mRNA had a positive correlation with protein expression of TLR4(r=0.61, P<0.01). Conclusions Expressions of TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells significantly increased and had a positive correlation with urinary protein excretion from HSPN in children.This implied that aberrant activation of TLR4 might be relevant to the development of HSPN. Key words: Henoch-Schonlein purpura; Child; Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis; Toll-like receptor