Study on the TLR4 expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with severe hepatitis B

Objective To detect the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) protein and mRNA of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) in patients with severe hepatitis B,and to explore the relationship of TLR4 and chronic severe hepatitis B.Methods TLR4 protein and mRNA levels were measured by flow cytometry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) in patients with severe hepatitis,chronic hepatitis B patient and normal controls,respectively.The levels of liver function,blood routine and HBV DNA were also examined.Results The positive rate of TLR4 and the mean TLR4 mRNA copy number in severe hepatitis B group were both significantly higher than those in controls.And the level of TLR4 protein was positively relative with the level of ALT,AST,TBil and the percent of neutrophil.Conclusions The increasing level of TLR4 in patients with severe hepatitis B were significantly related with the degree of damage on liver cell and development of disease,so the detecting of TLR4 is associated with the prognosis and treatment of disease.