BACKGROUND: As a crucial regulator of inflammation and immune responses, the NF-κB transcription factor regulates the transcription of target genes which are closely related with cell survival, cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis. The toll-like receptor (TLR) family is critical in aiding pathogen recognition and the subsequent activation of innate immunity. TLR4, one of the TLR family members, is the main receptor of innate immunity and functions to identify pathogens. However, the significance of the expressions of both NF-κB and TLR-4 in the occurrence, development and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. METHODS: NF-κB and TLR-4 expressions were analyzed in tissue microarrays made up of low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), early-stage ESCC, advanced ESCC tissue samples, as well as normal healthy esophageal mucosa. Chi-squared tests and Kaplan-Meier plots were utilized to determine the prognostic values of the NF-κB and TLR-4 expressions. RESULTS: We discovered that NF-κB and TLR-4 expressions were progressively increasing from normal esophageal mucosa, LGIN, HGIN and were highest in early-stage ESCC. Interestingly, TLR-4 and NF-κB expressions were attenuated in advanced ESCC tissue. Suppressed expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB correlated to increasingly malignant ESCC. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between NF-κB and TLR-4 expressions. CONCLUSION: TLR-4 and NF-κB are associated with the occurrence, development and malignant evolution of ESCC. IJCEP
BACKGROUND: As a crucial regulator of inflammation and immune responses, the NF-κB transcription factor regulates the transcription of target genes which are closely related with cell survival, cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis. The toll-like receptor (TLR) family is critical in aiding pathogen recognition and the subsequent activation of innate immunity. TLR4, one of the TLR family members, is the main receptor of innate immunity and functions to identify pathogens. However, the significance of the expressions of both NF-κB and TLR-4 in the occurrence, development and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. METHODS: NF-κB and TLR-4 expressions were analyzed in tissue microarrays made up of low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), early-stage ESCC, advanced ESCC tissue samples, as well as normal healthy esophageal mucosa. Chi-squared tests and Kaplan-Meier plots were utilized to determine the prognostic values of the NF-κB and TLR-4 expressions. RESULTS: We discovered that NF-κB and TLR-4 expressions were progressively increasing from normal esophageal mucosa, LGIN, HGIN and were highest in early-stage ESCC. Interestingly, TLR-4 and NF-κB expressions were attenuated in advanced ESCC tissue. Suppressed expressions of TLR-4 and NF-κB correlated to increasingly malignant ESCC. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between NF-κB and TLR-4 expressions. CONCLUSION:TLR-4 and NF-κB are associated with the occurrence, development and malignant evolution of ESCC. IJCEP