TLR2 Expression in Relation to IL-6 and IL-1βand theirNatural Regulators Production by PMN and PBMC in Patients withLyme Disease

摘要

Recently, it has been reported that TLR2 on macrophages plays a uniquerole in the inflammatory response and host defense to infectionwithBorrelia burgdorferi(Bb) which is an etiologic agent ofLyme disease. Experimental studies show that PMNs also play anessential role in infection control byBb. However,there is no available data about TLR2 expression on PMN in thecourse of Lyme disease. In the present study, TLR2 expression andproduction of IL-1βand IL-6 as well as their naturalregulators (sIL-1RII, IL-1Ra and sIL-6Rα, sgp130, resp) byPMN of peripheral blood in patients with Lyme disease wereexamined. For the purpose of comparison, the same activity ofautologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was estimated. Aneffect of rhIL-15 on TLR2 and cytokine secretion was also studied.Increased TLR2 expression in unstimulated neutrophils suggests animportant role of these cells in mechanism recognition ofBburgdorferiin patients with Lyme disease. The relationshipbetween IL-1βand IL-6 as well as their regulators byunstimulated PMN and PBMC, observed in the present study, may leadto enhanced IL-6- and to inhibition of IL-1β-mediatedreactions in this patient group. Changes in the TLR2 expressionafter rhIL-15 stimulation appear to have a favorable effect onmechanism recognition ofBb. The relations between IL-6and its regulators (sIL-6Rαand sgp130) as well as betweenIL-1βand its regulators (IL-1Ra and sIL-1RII) after rhIL-15stimulation may lead to enhanced IL-1β- and IL-6-mediatedinflammatory reactions in the course of Lyme disease.