The significance of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

PURPOSE To investigate the importance of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression on hepatocytes obtained from Chronic Hepatitis B patients as well as on hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cell lines. METHODS Expression of TLR4 in liver tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry in 75 patients with CHB and in10 healthy controls. The protein and mRNA 1eve1s of TLR4 in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cells were measured by flow cytometry (FCM) and real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR), and endotoxin triggered TNF-alpha secretion in HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cells was evaluated by ELISA. RESULTS TLR4 expressed mainly in the cytoplasm and some on cell membrane in hepatocytes. The staining scores of TLR4 expression in the liver tissues of patients with CHB were significantly higher than that of healthy controls. The liver tissues from patients with severe CHB expressed higher level of TLR4 than those from patients with mild CHB. Furthermore, the staining scores of TLR4 expression in the liver tissues of patients with CHB were positively correlated with the grading scores. Our results also showed that the mean fluorescence intensity and TNF-alpha secretion induced by endotoxin as well as the protein and mRNA 1eve1s of TLR4 in HepG2.2.15 cells were all significantly higher than those in HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION TLR4 was up-regulated in the hepatocytes in patients with CHB. This indicates a potentially important interaction between TLR4 expression and the pathogenesis of CHB.