Toll-like receptor expression in chronic hepatitis C: Correlation with pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and liver injury

Abstract

Background/Aims: Toll-like receptors (TLR's) are critical receptors that promote innate immune responses to pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Activation of TLR's leads to production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. This study investigates whether peripheral blood monocyte expression of TLR's is disturbed in patients with chronic hepatitis C and whether levels of expression of these molecules are significantly correlated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype, viral load, hepatic necroinflammatory activity, histological stage and circulating TNF-α concentrations. Methods: In 18 non-cirrhotic patients with biopsy-proven, virologically-confirmed chronic..