AUTHOR=Pacheco Guillermo Valencia , Novelo Noh Irene B. , Velasco Cárdenas Rubí M.-H. , Angulo Ramírez Angélica V. , López Villanueva Ricardo F. , Quintal Ortiz Irma G. , Alonso Salomón Ligia G. , Ruz Norma Pavía , Rivero Cárdenas Nubia A. 

TITLE=Expression of TLR-7, MyD88, NF-kB, and INF-α in B Lymphocytes of Mayan Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Mexico

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2016

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00022

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2016.00022

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease involving multiple organs. It is currently accepted that several genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors contributing to its development. Innate immunity may have a great influence in autoimmunity through Toll-like receptors (TLR). TLR-7 recognizing single-strand RNA has been involved in SLE. Its activation induces intracellular signal with attraction of MyD88 and NF-kB, leading to IFN-α synthesis which correlate with disease activity. Objective: To assess the expression of TLR-7, MyD88 and NF-kB in mononuclear cells of Mayan women with SLE. Methods: One hundred patients with SLE and one hundred healthy controls, all them Mayan women, were included. TLR-7 was analyzed on B and T lymphocytes, and MyD88 and NF-kB only in B lymphocytes. Serum INF-α level was evaluated by ELISA. Results: Significant expression (p < 0.0001) of TLR-7 in B and T lymphocytes and serum IFN-α increased (p = 0.034) was observed in patients. MyD88 and NF-kB were also increased in B lymphocytes of patients. TLR-7 and NF-kB expression correlated, but no correlation with INF-α and disease activity was detected. Conclusion: Data support the role of TLR-7 and signal proteins in the pathogenesis of SLE in the Mayan population of Yucatán.