Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
Br J Dermatol. 2012 Jul;167(1):29-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.10891.x. Epub 2012 Jun 1.
Leprosy is complicated by immunological reactions which can occur before, during and after successful completion of multidrug therapy. Genetic studies have suggested that polymorphisms in toll-like receptors (TLRs) may affect the susceptibility of an individual with leprosy to developing Type 1 reactions.
To examine the gene and protein expression of TLRs in the cutaneous lesions of leprosy Type 1 reactions at the onset of reaction and during systemic corticosteroid therapy.
Patients who were being treated for leprosy type 1 reactions with corticosteroids as part of a randomized controlled trial of corticosteroid treatment had skin biopsies performed before, during and at the end of treatment. The gene and protein expression of TLR2 and TLR4 were measured.
We have demonstrated that the gene hARP-P0 is a suitable control gene for TLR gene expression studies in this population. The gene and protein expression of TLR2 and TLR4 were both reduced significantly during corticosteroid treatment.
This is the first study to examine the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in vivo in individuals experiencing leprosy Type 1 reactions. The data support the possibility of an important role for TLR2 and TLR4 in the pathogenesis of this important complication of leprosy.
麻风病的发病机制较为复杂，免疫反应可发生在多药联合化疗前、中、后。遗传研究表明，Toll 样受体（TLR）的多态性可能影响麻风患者发生 1 型反应的易感性。
探讨 TLR 基因和蛋白在麻风 1 型反应患者皮损中的表达，以及在反应发生时和全身皮质激素治疗期间的变化。
我们对正在接受皮质激素治疗的麻风 1 型反应患者进行了前瞻性研究，这些患者是皮质激素治疗随机对照试验的一部分。在治疗前、治疗中和治疗结束时进行皮肤活检，检测 TLR2 和 TLR4 的基因和蛋白表达。
我们证明 hARP-P0 基因是该人群 TLR 基因表达研究的合适对照基因。在皮质激素治疗期间，TLR2 和 TLR4 的基因和蛋白表达均显著降低。
这是第一项研究 TLR2 和 TLR4 在麻风 1 型反应患者体内表达的研究。该研究结果支持 TLR2 和 TLR4 在麻风这种重要并发症的发病机制中可能发挥重要作用的观点。
