Increased Toll-like receptor 4 expression in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis

A Gagro, M Tominac, V Kršulović-Hrešić… - Clinical & …, 2004 - academic.oup.com
A Gagro, M Tominac, V Kršulović-Hrešić, A Baće, M Matić, V Draženović…
Clinical & Experimental Immunology, 2004academic.oup.com
The fusion protein of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) binds to the pattern recognition
receptors, TLR4 and CD14, and initiates innate immunity response to the virus. The aim of
the study was to investigate the expression of TLR4 on peripheral blood lymphocytes and
monocytes in peripheral blood of infants in both acute and convalescent phase of RSV
bronchiolitis (n= 26). In addition, TNF-α expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated
monocytes was also assessed. The results showed TLR4 to be expressed predominantly by …
Summary
The fusion protein of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) binds to the pattern recognition receptors, TLR4 and CD14, and initiates innate immunity response to the virus. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of TLR4 on peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood of infants in both acute and convalescent phase of RSV bronchiolitis (n = 26). In addition, TNF-α expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes was also assessed. The results showed TLR4 to be expressed predominantly by monocytes in both sick infants and controls. During the acute phase of infection monocytes up-regulated TLR4 in eight infants, which returned to the levels recorded in controls 4–6 weeks from infection. There was no difference in the percentage of TNF-α secreting monocytes. Of the clinical parameters tested, minimal oxygen saturation was found to correlate negatively with this expression in the group of infants with increased TLR4. Additional studies are under way to correlate this finding with the outcome of the immune response to RSV.
Oxford University Press