Profiling of Toll-like Receptors and Related Signaling Mediators in the Pathogenesis of Morphea.

INTRODUCTION

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a rare fibrosing inflammatory disease of unknown pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES

Although the genetic basis for morphea is important, reports on the evaluation of Toll-like receptors (TLR) in this disease is quite limited. We aimed to evaluate TLR expression levels and serum IL-6, IL-17A, TGF-β1, FGF, and VEGF levels in patients with morphea and compare these results with healthy controls.

METHODS

The expression levels of TLRs in the lesional and non-lesional adjacent skin of patients with morphea and in normal skin of healthy controls were evaluated by RT-PCR, whereas serum levels of IL-6, IL-17A, TGF-β1, FGF, and VEGF were evaluated by ELISA.

RESULTS

Based on our findings, TLR1 gene expression increased 34.3-fold in the lesional skin of patients with morphea. In addition, IL-6, IL-17A, TGF-β, FGF, and VEGF were found to be higher in the blood samples of the patient group than in the healthy group.

CONCLUSION

TLRs are important parts of the pathogenesis of morphea, and a better understanding of them will lead to more directed, effective treatments. We believe that this study will be important for pioneering TLR-targeted therapeutic approaches in the treatment of morphea in the future.