Increase Of PBMCs TLR2/TLR3Expressions And Reactivity To Their Ligands In A Cohort Of Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration Patients

Purpose: To investigate toll-like receptors (TLRs) expressions andtheir reactivity in wet form age-related macular degeneration (AMD)patients.Methods: Blood samples were collected from25wet age-relatedmacular degeneration (wet AMD) patients and25age-matched healthycontrols. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated byFicoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. Expressions of TLR1toTLR10mRNA were assessed by real-time PCR. TLR2and TLR3proteinlevels were measured with flow cytometry. After stimulating PBMCs withPGN and PolyI:C, the specific ligands of TLR2and TLR3, cytokines IL-6,IL-8and MCP-1productions were assessed.Results: TLR2and TLR3mRNA and protein expressions in thePBMCs of the wet AMD patient were significantly higher than those in thecontrols. However, the differences of TLR1and TLR4-10mRNAexpressions between the two groups were not significant. The PBMCs of the wet AMD patients produced more IL-6and IL-8proteins than thecontrols in response to PGN, a ligand for TLR2, and more IL-6protein thanthe controls in response to PolyI:C, the ligand for TLR3. But there was nosignificant difference in MCP-1production between the wet AMD groupand the control group when stimulated PBMCs with PGN or PolyI:C.Conclusion: Our data suggested that upregulation of TLR2and TLR3maybe associated with the pathogenesis of wet AMD.