The Expression of Toll-Like Receptors in Patients with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) presents with progressive accumulation of monoclonal B cells in the peripheral blood, bone marrow and lymphoid organs. B-CLL is characterized by heterogeneous clinical outcome. The expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their association with other prognostic factors in B-CLL patients remain unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate the expression of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 genes and their significance as biological markers in patients with B-CLL. Sixty patients with newly diagnosed B-CLL were evaluated. The healthy control group included 20 agematched individuals. Using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, the mRNA expression of genes TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 was measured. TLR4 gene expression was lower in B-CLL patients as compared to the control group and TLR2 gene expression was higher in B-CLL patients than in healthy individuals. TLR9 gene expression was higher in the control group than in patients with B-CLL. TLR4 mRNA expression was lower in patients with advancedstage CLL (Rai stages III and IV) than in patients with early stage disease (Rai stages 0-II). TLR2 gene expression was higher in patients with advanced-stage CLL (Rai stages III and IV) than in patients with early stage disease Rai stages 0-II; p<0.05). Our results suggest that TLRs could become potential biological markers for the clinical outcome in patients with B-CLL.