Toll样受体4在强直性脊柱炎患者外周血白细胞中的表达及临床意义初探

目的：探讨Toll样受体4（Toll-likereceptor 4，TLR4）在不同人群外周血白细胞的差异表达及其在强直性脊柱炎（ankylosing spondylitis，As）中的意义。方法：应用流式细胞术检测60例AS患者及40例健康对照外周血淋巴细胞、单核细胞和中性粒细胞TLR4的表达。结果：TLR4在外周血淋巴细胞、单核细胞和中性粒细胞均有表达，以单核细胞表达为主；HLA-B27阳性和阴性AS患者外周血3种细胞TLR4的阳性表达率均明显高于对照组（P〈0．001），但两者之间并无显著差异。结论：TLR4主要表达于外周血单核细胞，但AS患者外周血3种细胞表达均上调，这种上调与HLA-B27阳性与否无关，提示TLR4信号通路的异常与AS的发病相关。

Analysis for expression of TLR4 on leucocytes from patients with ankylosing spondylitis and its clinical significance

Objective To explore the differential expression of Toll-like receptor4(TLR4)in human leukocytes and its significance in the patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS).Methods Using flowcytometry we determined the expression of TLR4 on the peripheral blood leukocytes from 60 AS patients and 40 healthy controls.Results The positive rate of TLR4 in leukocytes of AS group was significantly higher than that in controls(P<0.001).No statistical difference was found between the HLA-B27-positive and HLA-B27-negative AS patients(P>0.05).However,both AS groups showed significantly higher positive rate of TLR4 in leukocytes than the controls(P<0.001).Conclusions TLR4 is expressed in three kinds of leukocytes(lymphocytes,monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes),but it is mainly expressed in human monocytes.The positive rate of TLR4 on monocytes is significantly increased,and no correlation between the HLA-B27-positive and negative patients.The results indicated that abnormal TLR4 signal pathway might be related to the pathogenesis of AS.