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Horm Metab Res 2004; 36(7): 470-473
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-825750
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Toll-like Receptor 2 and Toll-like Receptor 4 Expression in Human Adrenals

S.  R.  Bornstein1 , R.  R.  Schumann2 , V.  Rettori3 , S.  M.  McCann4 , K.  Zacharowski5
  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Rheumatology, University of Düsseldorf, Germany
  • 2Department of Hygiene and Microbiology, Charité, Berlin, Germany
  • 3Centro de Estudios Farmacologicos y Botanicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • 4Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
  • 5Department of Anesthesiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received 4 April 2004

Acceped after Revision 25 May 2004

Publication Date:
11 August 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key elements in the innate immune response, functioning as pattern-recognition receptors for the detection and response to endotoxins and other microbial ligands. Inflammatory cytokines play an important role in the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal HPA axis during inflammation and sepsis. The newly recognized major role of TLR2 and TLR4 and the adrenal stress response during critical illnesses such as inflammation and sepsis demand comprehensive analysis of their interactions. Therefore, we analyzed TLR2 and TLR4 expression in human adrenal glands. Western blot analysis demonstrated the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in the human adrenocortical cell line NCI-H295. Immunohistochemical analysis of normal human adrenal glands revealed TLR2 and TLR4 expression in the adrenal cortex, but not in the adrenal medulla. Considering the crucial role of the HPA axis and the innate immune response during acute sepsis or septic shock, elucidating the functional interaction of these systems should be of great clinical relevance.

Key words

Stress - Endotoxemia - Adrenal - Toll-like receptor

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S. R. Bornstein, M. D., Ph. D.

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Rheumatology · University of Düsseldorf

Moorenstraße 5 · 40225 Düsseldorf · Germany

Phone: +49(211)8116829, +49(211)8117810 ·

Fax: +49(211)8117860

Email: stefan.bornstein@uni-duesseldorf.de

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