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Expression of toll-like receptor 2 and plasma level of interleukin-10 are associated with outcome in tuberculosis

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European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2-mediated innate immunity is an important defense system against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Studies on TLR2 protein expression and downstream cytokines in tuberculosis patients are lacking. TLR2 expression in the peripheral blood monocytes of 87 tuberculosis patients and 94 healthy subjects was evaluated using flow cytometry. TLR2 expression and its downstream cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interferon-gamma, were correlated with the clinical manifestations and outcomes of tuberculosis. The TLR2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes was higher in tuberculosis patients than in healthy subjects. Among the tuberculosis patients, those aged ≥70 years with disseminated tuberculosis or aged <70 years with symptom duration ≥14 days had lower initial TLR2 expression. After two months of treatment, TLR2 expression decreased in most patients, except in those whose sputum samples remained culture-positive for M. tuberculosis. Proportional hazards regression analyses revealed that high initial TLR2 expression and IL-10 plasma level were associated with shorter survival. TLR2 may play an important role in the course of tuberculosis. Its expression on peripheral blood monocytes and the plasma level of the downstream anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 may be important outcome predictors and have potential use in the management of tuberculosis patients.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan (grant NSC 96-2320-B-002-079-MY2). The authors thank the staff of the Seventh Core Lab and Eighth Core Lab of the Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, for their technical support and Dr. Fu-Chang Hu for performing the statistical analysis in the study.

Author contributions

Jann-Yuan Wang and Chin-Chung Shu drafted the manuscript and analyzed the results with Chih-Hsin Lee and Jann-Tay Wang. Hsiu-Ching Chang and Jia-Luen Liu performed all the experiments. Li-Na Lee designed the study and participated in the data analysis.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in relation to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan

    J.-Y. Wang & J.-T. Wang

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan

    H.-C. Chang, J.-L. Liu & L.-N. Lee

  3. Department of Traumatology, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan

    C.-C. Shu

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, No. 289, Jianguo Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City, 23142, Taiwan

    C.-H. Lee

Authors
  1. J.-Y. Wang
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  2. H.-C. Chang
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  3. J.-L. Liu
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  4. C.-C. Shu
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  5. C.-H. Lee
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  6. J.-T. Wang
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  7. L.-N. Lee
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Correspondence to L.-N. Lee.

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Wang, JY., Chang, HC., Liu, JL. et al. Expression of toll-like receptor 2 and plasma level of interleukin-10 are associated with outcome in tuberculosis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 31, 2327–2333 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-012-1572-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-012-1572-3

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