Nasr A S, Fawzy S M, Gheita T A, El-Khateeb E
Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 12613, Cairo, Egypt.
Z Rheumatol. 2016 Jun;75(5):502-7. doi: 10.1007/s00393-015-0022-x.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common complex disease characterized by chronic generalized inflammation which may involve several tissues and organs.
The aim of this work was to study the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 3 and 9 in SLE patients, and to investigate their relationship to clinical features, disease activity, and damage.
The current study included 24 Egyptian female SLE patients and 15 matched controls. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and damage using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) index. Expression of TLR3 and TLR9 in B- (CD19-positive) and T-lymphocytes (CD3-positive) was studied using flow cytometry.
Patient age ranged between 17 and 42 years (mean 26.17 ± 5.78 years). There was a significant difference between patients and controls regarding TLR3/CD3, TLR3/CD19, TLR9/CD3, and TLR9/CD19 expression (p < 0.0001). There were significant correlations of TLR3/CD3, TLR3/CD19, and TLR9/CD19 with serum creatinine (r = 0.52, p = 0.009; r = 0.504, p = 0.012; and r = 0.58, p = 0.003; respectively) and negative correlations with ALT levels (r = -0.42, p = 0.04; r = -0.49, p = 0.016; and r = -0.472, p = 0.02; respectively).
The results of the study suggest that TLR3 and TLR9 play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE, and have an impact on organ involvement in this disease. More studies concerning the biology and function of TLRs are required in larger patient cohorts, and may lead to development of a new class of drugs.
系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）是一种常见的复杂疾病，其特征为慢性全身性炎症，可累及多个组织和器官。
本研究旨在探讨Toll样受体（TLR）3和9在SLE患者中的表达情况，并研究它们与临床特征、疾病活动度及损伤的关系。
本研究纳入了24例埃及女性SLE患者及15例匹配的对照。采用SLE疾病活动指数（SLEDAI）评估疾病活动度，采用系统性红斑狼疮国际协作临床中心（SLICC）指数评估损伤情况。运用流式细胞术研究B淋巴细胞（CD19阳性）和T淋巴细胞（CD3阳性）中TLR3和TLR9的表达。
患者年龄在17至42岁之间（平均26.17±5.78岁）。患者与对照在TLR3/CD3、TLR3/CD19、TLR9/CD3及TLR9/CD19表达方面存在显著差异（p<0.0001）。TLR3/CD3、TLR3/CD19及TLR9/CD19与血清肌酐显著相关（r分别为0.52，p=0.009；r=0.504，p=0.012；r=0.58，p=0.003），与ALT水平呈负相关（r分别为-0.42，p=0.04；r=-0.49，p=0.016；r=-0.472，p=0.02）。
研究结果表明，TLR3和TLR9在SLE发病机制中起作用，并对该疾病的器官受累有影响。需要在更大的患者队列中开展更多关于TLR生物学和功能的研究，这可能会促成一类新型药物的研发。
