Expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on the Surface of Monocytes were Associated with Serum Levels of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8 in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective:To investigate the expression of Toll-like receptor(TLR)2 and TLR4 on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells,as well as the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF alpha),interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 8(IL-8) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods: There were three groups in this study: smoking COPD group,smoking healthy group and non-smoking healthy group.The COPD group was divided into acute period group and stable period group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay was used to detect the expression of TLR2 and TLR4,while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kits were used to detect serum cytokine concentrations.Results: TLR2 and TLR4 expression levels,as well as serum concentrations of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in smoking COPD group than in smoking healthy group(P0.01).TLR2 and TLR4 expression levels were significantly lower in smoking healthy group than in non-smoking healthy group,while TNF-α,IL-6,IL-8 concentrations in smoking healthy group were significantly higher compared with non-smoking healthy group(P0.01).The expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4,as well as the serum concentrations of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in acute period COPD group than in stable period COPD group(P0.01).TLR2 and TLR4 expression levels were positively correlated with serum concentrations of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8 in COPD patients.Conclusions: TLR2,TLR4 expression levels and serum levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-8 were significantly increased in COPD patients.It is more significant in acute period COPD.TLR2 and TLR4 expression levels were positively related to serum levels of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8.COPD's occurrence and development are correlated with natural immunity.