Study on the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Objective To examine the expression of Toll-like receptor(TLR)4 protein and the transcription of TLR4 mRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)from patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection and explore the relationship between TLR4 and chronic HBV infec- tion.Methods The expression level and transcription level of TLR4 were determined by flow cytometre and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction respectively in PBMC from 37 chronic hepatitis patients,28 liver cirrhosis patients,31 severe hepatitis patients and 27 healthy controls. Meanwhile,liver function,as well as blood routine test,prothrombin test activity(PTA)and HBV DNA was measured.Results The expression level and transcription level of TLR4 in patients were higher than those in healthy controls(P0.05).And the TLR4 expression level was significantly positively correlated with its transcription level(r=0.897,P0.01),as well as the levels of ala- nine aminotransferase,asperate aminofransferase,total bilirubin and the percentage of neutrophil(r= 0.475,0.558,0.924 and 0.443,respectively),but was negatively associated with the levels of ser- um albumin,PTA and HBV DNA(r=-0.927,-0.902 and -0.272,respectively).Conclusion The upregulated expression and transcription of TLR4 in patients with chronic HBV infection were significantly related with the degree of liver damage and the development of the disease.