Toll Like Receptor 2 and 4 Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell mediated autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Appropriate MS therapeutic strategies need thorough understanding of both disease etiology and pathogenesis mechanisms. Ligation of TLR-2 and TLR-4 stimulates the production of several cytokines leading to CNS autoimmunity and neurodegenerative diseases. Objective: To find a relationship between MS disability and TLR-2 and TLR-4 expression on mononuclear cells in the blood of MS patients. Methods: Forty-five new case (NC) MS patients (33 females and 12 males) and 45 age and gender-matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited to the study. PBMCs were prepared and the expressions of TLR-2 and TLR-4 were assessed by flowcytometry technique using appropriate monoclonal antibodies. Results: Our results showed that the expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4 proteins in the patients group was significantly higher than that of healthy controls. TLR-2 but not TLR-4 was correlated with expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores. Conclusion: High expressions of TLR-2 and TLR-4 may represent a state of innate immune activation in patients with MS.