BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key pattern-recognition receptors of the innate immune system, but their role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is largely unknown. METHODS: In the present study, we examined the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on monocytes from 48 HIV-infected patients and 21 healthy control subjects by flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found that freshly isolated monocytes from HIV-infected patients displayed enhanced expression of TLR2 but not TLR4, that TLR2 expression on the surface of monocytes was significantly increased upon stimulation of HIV type 1 envelope protein gp120, and that TLR2 stimulation in HIV-infected patients induced increased viral replication and TNF- alpha response. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest potential roles for TLR2 in chronic immune activation and viral replication in HIV infection.
BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key pattern-recognition receptors of the innate immune system, but their role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is largely unknown. METHODS: In the present study, we examined the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on monocytes from 48 HIV-infectedpatients and 21 healthy control subjects by flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found that freshly isolated monocytes from HIV-infectedpatients displayed enhanced expression of TLR2 but not TLR4, that TLR2 expression on the surface of monocytes was significantly increased upon stimulation of HIV type 1 envelope protein gp120, and that TLR2 stimulation in HIV-infectedpatients induced increased viral replication and TNF- alpha response. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest potential roles for TLR2 in chronic immune activation and viral replication in HIV infection.
Authors: Juan C Hernández; Mario Stevenson; Eicke Latz; Silvio Urcuqui-Inchima Journal: AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses Date: 2012-03-12 Impact factor: 2.205